Alabama came into the SEC Championship Game dealing with plenty of injuries, most notably at the skill positions, with running back Jam Miller and tight end Josh Cuevas both out for the rematch with Georgia. However, the Tide are also a bit thin in the trenches with left guard Kam Dewberry ruled out on Saturday in Atlanta.
Dewberry was questionable for the game, and is on the sideline in uniform, but in the second quarter, with the Tide trailing 14-0 and attempting to get their offense going, ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported that Dewberry was ruled OUT.
Veteran interior offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark got the start in Dewberry’s place, his ninth start of the season, though most have come at right guard. As Alabama shuffles things on the interior, Wilkim Formby, who began the year at right tackle, got his second consecutive start at right guard with true freshman Michael Carroll at right tackle.
Kalen DeBoer forced to reshuffle offensive line for SEC Title Game with Kam Dewberry OUT
The Texas A&M transfer played 72 snaps at left guard in the Iron Bowl last week and did not leave the game with injury, so he was a slightly unexpected addition to the injury report as the postseason began for the Tide.
Dewberry and VanDeMark came into the year battling for the starting left guard spot. However, the offensive line has shuffled throughout the season with Dewberry, VanDeMark and William Sanders all playing snaps at left guard while VanDeMark, Jaeden Roberts, and Formby have split time on the right side of starting center Parker Brailsford.
Brailsford reportedly played through pain in the Iron Bowl victory, but was closer to 100% this week.
Alabama has struggled to run the ball all season. With Miller, Dewberry, and Cuevas all out against Georgia, those struggles have continued in the first half. Sophomore Daniel Hill and true freshman AK Dear have both gotten carries.