BREAKING NEWS: Another offensive key man gives Alabama second offensive bookend
Alabama football may recreate the formidable offensive line it boasted during the 2020 season. The team, which clinched the Joe Moore Award that year, featured standout players like Landon Dickerson, Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown, and Emil Ekiyor in the front line. Now, Chris Kapilovic, the new offensive line coach for the Crimson Tide, has inherited a pair of robust offensive guards in Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts, a proficient center named Parker Brailsford, and a formidable offensive tackle in Kadyn Proctor, who returned to the Southeastern Conference after a stint at Iowa.
Alabama seems well-equipped in four out of five positions on the offensive line, with only the right tackle spot remaining uncertain. While Elijah Pritchett brings experience to the role, a former four-star recruit from the class of 2023 has emerged as the frontrunner during spring practice. Wilkin Formby, a redshirt freshman hailing from Tuscaloosa, has generated considerable excitement among Tide fans.
Formby, a standout from Northridge High School, earned unanimous four-star status and was widely regarded as one of the top tackle prospects in the 2023 recruiting cycle. At 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, he showcased exceptional technical prowess, distinguishing himself as a standout. Despite only playing in three games last year for Alabama’s Southeastern Conference Championship-winning team, he has swiftly embraced Coach Kapilovic’s principles.
Sources close to Touchdown Alabama Magazine indicate that Formby’s contributions extend beyond the physical realm. He is reportedly mentally prepared to contribute significantly to Alabama’s dominance on the field. With Formby and Kadyn Proctor anchoring the offensive line, the Tide boasts a formidable pair of bookend tackles.
Regarding Pritchett, sources suggest he may find himself in a precarious position. Alabama possesses a depth of talent at the right tackle position, including Miles McVay, Naquil Betrand, Joseph Ionata, and Casey Poe. Of these options, McVay stands out, particularly if he sheds 15 pounds, indicating the potential for significant improvement.