Ryan Grubb shocked the Alabama fanbase two weeks ago when he declared that there was no competition at left tackle and that redshirt freshman Jackson Lloyd was the guy. After just a couple of spring practices, Grubb's words felt premature.
Kalen DeBoer evidently agreed.
On Friday, following Alabama's first scrimmage of spring practice, DeBoer called Alabama's left tackle competition "day to day" and issued a warning to Lloyd in the process:
"He's done a great job to deserve the notoriety, I guess that's been given to him," DeBoer said. ..."But I think that the important thing, not just for him, but for all our guys, is if you're the guy that's taken most of the reps at a certain position, I don't care if it's o-line or wide receiver, you better not get comfortable. You better keep the pedal down, because the next guys are coming."
Kalen DeBoer warns Jackson Lloyd to 'not get comfortable' as Alabama's presumed starting LT
DeBoer's comments can easily be viewed through the lens of not being particularly happy with Grubb's early anointment of Lloyd as the team's starting left tackle.
There was no real reason for Grubb to make that announcement when he did, aside from perhaps providing some motivation for the other potential starting left tackles on the roster.
One of those is Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James, who started at LT for the Bulldogs last season and has racked up 21 career starts. James is a guy the coaching staff certainly believes in, and if he's not going to seriously push Lloyd for the LT job, it looks like he's going to get a real look at RT.
Alabama has been experimenting in recent practices with shifting sophomore Michael Carroll, last year's starting RT, inside to RG. Carroll was recruited as a guard, but he did an outstanding job as a true freshman on the outside and has shown a willingness to kick inside to help the team find the best five up front.
The best five could include James at RT, though he may continue to get some reps at LT, too, because it doesn't sound like DeBoer is as convinced as Grubb that the competition on the blindside is over.