Ryan Grubb has made the call Alabama fans were waiting to hear: the Crimson Tide are done talking about rotating bodies just for the sake of it up front.
That was the big flashpoint around Alabama’s offensive line last season, when the staff kept shuffling pieces instead of locking in the best five and letting them build rhythm. The frustration reached the locker room, too, with last year’s LT Kadyn Proctor making his feelings known publicly. And after Alabama’s issues up front, the debate only got louder.
So when Grubb was asked after Thursday’s practice whether the Tide planned to keep rotating this season or settle on a fixed group, he didn’t leave much room for interpretation.
"Best five. Best five," Grubb said. "Now, there’s injuries; guys gotta move in and out, things like that, but certainly wanna get the gel right right away.”
That’s the direction Alabama appears to be taking now, and there’s already a decent outline of what the line could look like. Returning starter Michael Carroll is expected to slide inside to guard, barring something unforeseen.
Jackson Lloyd, part of the 2025 class, has a firm hold on the left tackle job. Cal Poly transfer Racin Delgatty looks like the center.
That leaves two spots up for grabs, and both are genuine fights.
At left guard, Will Sanders has been viewed publicly as the favorite, but sophomore Mal Waldrep has made noise since spring. The staff clearly likes what it has seen, and Grubb was especially complimentary of Waldrep on Thursday.
"He's tough, smart, he's an excellent communicator," Grubb said. "Really done a nice job, so I think it's gonna be a heck of a battle there."
Right tackle is just as unsettled, with Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James and Texas transfer Nick Brooks competing for the job. Brooks has drawn praise for his athleticism at his size, and he’s also worked to trim weight after it caused him problems last season at Texas, when he was a true freshman pushed into action early. James, meanwhile, has earned recognition for his football intelligence, and Grubb described him as one of Alabama’s most "savvy" players.
Grubb, new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, and Kalen DeBoer still have time to sort it out before Alabama opens against East Carolina. The goal is clear: settle on the five that fit best, then give them as much time as possible to grow together. That matters even more with four new starters expected to be part of the group.
For fans who spent all of last season complaining about the constant rotation, the shift is a welcome one. Whether it actually changes the ceiling for this line is a different question.
Fall camp has delivered the right message. The real answer comes when the season starts next month.
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