Alabama heads into fall camp with the quarterback race grabbing most of the attention, but the bigger swing piece for 2026 may be the offensive line.
Keelon Russell and Austin Mack will draw the loudest headlines, and the battles at linebacker, running back, and along the defensive line are all worth watching too. Still, the Tide’s front five could end up shaping the season more than any other group. After a 2025 campaign that featured a search for consistency up front, Alabama is starting over with first-year offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, and the early signs point to a different kind of unit.
The most obvious change is on the scale. Based on the pounds gained and lost from spring to August among the projected starters, Alabama looks like it is moving toward a group that values athleticism without giving up much size.
The projected lineup looks like this:
Jackson Lloyd - 326 lbs
Will Sanders - 321 lbs
Racin Delgatty - 305 lbs
Michael Carroll - 324 lbs
Jayvin James - 317 lbs
That group would come in at 1,593 pounds total, or an average of 318.6 pounds per starter.
For comparison, the Tide’s line last fall weighed 1,629 pounds overall and averaged 327.8 pounds per starter. That group featured Kadyn Proctor at 336 pounds, Kam Dewberry at 322, Parker Brailsford at 290, Jaeden Roberts at 327, and Wilkin Formby at 324.
In simple terms, Alabama’s projected front is about 9.2 pounds lighter per lineman, for a total drop of 36 pounds across the five spots.
That matters because last season’s group had trouble consistently getting off the ball, pulling, and reaching the second level with enough efficiency to create movement in space. The new profile also lines up with the type of offensive line DeBoer and Grubb had at Washington in 2023. That Joe Moore Award-winning group didn’t just overwhelm people with brute force every week, but it blended size, athleticism, and finesse well enough to power the Huskies all the way to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
None of that means Alabama is suddenly headed for the same kind of award or that Klemm’s first season will automatically work out. But it does show what the Tide are building toward as camp opens: a front designed to turn a weakness into a strength.
If that happens, the payoff could reach across the whole offense, especially in how well Alabama runs the football in 2026.
In Other News...
EJ Crowell Just Gave Alabama Fans A Reason To Watch This Battle
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Kalen DeBoer said Crowell flashed well in the non-padded workout, which is at least a useful first step for a player trying to reclaim momentum. The next phase will matter much more, though, because Alabama still needs to see how he looks once the contact ramps up and the evaluation gets real. [Read more 🡒]
Kalen DeBoer Is Watching One Thing In Alabamas QB Battle
Alabama opened its 2026 fall camp with the quarterback competition already drawing the most attention, and Kalen DeBoer made it clear the early days of practice are about more than just throwing the ball well. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell have both been steady in camp, giving the staff a close look at how each handles the position as the Crimson Tide start sorting out the biggest job on the roster.
DeBoer pointed to leadership and the way the quarterbacks respond during practice as a key part of the evaluation, which is why this battle figures to keep unfolding well beyond the first few sessions. For now, the coaches are seeing two passers who have been consistent enough to stay squarely in the mix, and Alabama is still waiting for the performance that separates one from the other. [Read more 🡒]