Ignore the noise about Racin Delgatty not being big enough to battle SEC defensive linemen. At 300-plus pounds, Delgatty has adequate size. The Cal-Poly transfer is indeed stepping up in class in a big way. Alabama's offensive staff braintrust appears not a bit concerned about Delgatty being more than adequate for the Crimson Tide.
The Alabama staff values Delgatty as a glue guy who can lead his unit. Physically, he may not be dominant, but Parker Brailsford performed well with a similar body type and less weight. As John Mitchell recently reported, Brailsford is competing for a starting role with the Cleveland Browns.
Mitchell made another key observation about Delgatty, that against an expectedly improved Alabama defensive line, "if he was going to get exposed, that would be happening in practice."
Having cast aside worries about the Crimson Tide's starting center, another issue is troubling. It is possible that Alabama could be one play away from a freshman first-unit center. On Tuesday, freshman Chris Booker appeared to be No. 2 in Alabama's center pecking order. Poe is apparently dinged up a bit.
Alabama Options at Backup Center
Booker is not Adrian Klemm's only option. With Casey Poe and Mal Waldrep Jr. drilling as potential backups to Delgatty, William Sanders is another option.
Alabama lists Booker at 6'4" and 288 lbs. That makes him leaner than Delgatty and nearly 20 pounds lighter. Booker was a 4-star coming out of Georgia that the Bulldogs apparently did not push hard to land. That does not mean he lacks potential. Back in 2025, when Booker got an offer from Alabama, reportedly the Crimson Tide staff saw him as a potential sophomore starter. A new O-line coach accelerating that timetable would be a surprise.
A guess is that during Thursday's scrimmage, Poe and Waldrep will be the main centers for the second-unit offense. Poe will likely get most of the snaps because Waldrep appears to be the first-unit left guard leader. If Booker has jumped to No. 2 among Alabama's centers, we can allay worries by considering the underrated freshman may be a phenom.
For any Alabama fans wondering, Chris Booker is not related to former Alabama Crimson Tide lineman Tyler Booker.
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