Alabama’s offensive line struggled in ways we’re just not used to seeing in Tuscaloosa last season. The run game was nearly nonexistent, the protection inconsistent, and the identity up front-something the Crimson Tide have long prided themselves on-was missing.
After averaging just 104.1 rushing yards per game, a mark that ranked 125th out of 136 FBS teams, it was clear something had to change. And Kalen DeBoer didn’t waste time making sure it did.
The first major move came when Alabama officially parted ways with offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic. The decision, while significant, felt inevitable after a season that saw the Tide rotate eight linemen instead of settling on a cohesive starting five.
That lack of continuity led to 32 sacks allowed across 15 games-fourth-most in the SEC-and a pair of humbling performances in the trenches to close out the year. Alabama was outmuscled by Georgia in the SEC Championship, then overwhelmed again by Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
For a program that built its dynasty on physical dominance, those losses hit hard.
So DeBoer hit the reset button.
He started by overhauling the offensive line room through the Transfer Portal, bringing in six new linemen to reshape the unit from the ground up. Then, this past Friday, he made it official: Kapilovic was out, and in came Adrian Klemm, a former USC analyst with a deep résumé that includes both college and NFL experience.
Klemm’s arrival signals more than just a new voice in the room-it’s a philosophical shift. Alabama isn’t just tweaking things up front.
They’re rebuilding.
DeBoer spoke about the changes this week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, and he didn’t sugarcoat the reasoning.
“It’s about production,” DeBoer said. “We know we gotta be better there-mindset and just execution, the details of the fundamentals that the guys need.
A lot of new faces that are gonna be in that room. So, kind of a fresh start there.”
That “fresh start” isn’t just about personnel-it’s about resetting the standard. Alabama’s offensive line has long been a pipeline to the NFL, a group that imposed its will on opponents.
But last season, that edge was missing. DeBoer knows it.
The players know it. The fanbase certainly knows it.
And that’s why the overhaul matters.
DeBoer didn’t stop at calling out the need for better fundamentals. He also expressed confidence in the new-look group, noting the physical upgrades that came with this latest round of transfers.
“I think we got longer, we got bigger,” he said. “I think we got more athletic. I think we got some guys, both in the program and guys who have come into it, that really care.”
That last part-the guys who “really care”-might be the most telling. DeBoer isn’t just looking for size and strength.
He’s looking for buy-in. For players who want to restore the identity that Alabama football has long been known for.
Now, as we look ahead to the 2026 season, the question isn’t whether Alabama made the right moves-they clearly addressed the issues. The question is how quickly those changes take hold.
Chemistry on the offensive line doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built through reps, trust, and repetition.
And with so many new faces in the room, there’s going to be a learning curve.
But if DeBoer and Klemm can get this group to gel, the payoff could be massive. Alabama still has the talent.
They’ve now made the changes. What’s left is execution-and that’s what will ultimately define the next chapter of Crimson Tide football.