Kalen DeBoer on building Alabama's offensive line from scratch in 2026: How long will it honestly take???

Like building anything from the ground up, constructing a new offensive line requires patience before the structure truly gels. The pieces may be in place, but until the concrete sets and each beam learns how to support the one beside it, the stability isn't fully there. That's the stage Kalen DeBoer and Alabama's offensive front currently finds itself in this spring as they aim to replace, reconstruct, and build up new chemistry under the direction of recently hired Tide position coach Adrian Klemm. 

The Crimson Tide arrived at this point after being hit with significant turnover upfront. Alabama's two main pillars on the line, Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford, both opted to forgo their remaining eligibility and enter the NFL Draft in January, leaving an already inconsistent unit with many holes to fill. DeBoer and company quickly aimed to address those needs, bringing in six new players at the position through the transfer portal while also making a change in the leadership along the unit with the firing of beleaguered coach Chris Kapilovic. 

Following that departure, DeBoer hired former USC analyst Adrian Klemm to guide a room filled with new faces from different places and returning players adjusting to new roles. With so many moving parts, the focus early this spring practice has been less about perfection and more about learning how these pieces fit together. The third-year Alabama coach addressed that slow-burning process to reporters after the Tide's second practice on Tuesday when asked about having to rebuild the unit from scratch.

Kalen DeBoer on the brick by brick process of rebuilding Alabama's offensive line this spring with the guidance of Adrian Klemm

"Maybe not quite to that extent across the board when you talk about the coach & all the players," DeBoer said. "But you've had times where there's three or four starters that you have to replace, and so guys are hungry. Guys are coming in wide eyed, ready to learn. It creates competition, that's what you want across your team but especially in that room. And they've really made a lot of improvements with strength. Of course, you wanna be excited about every guy but I'm excited about certain guys in particular, and now you've just gotta see that translate onto the football field. And right now there's still some thinking going on, their trying to get use to what their job is, much less trying to get use to playing with a guy next to them and hearing those calls when the bullets are really flying. Walk-throughs are one thing, in the meeting rooms another, but now you get on the football field. And there's a learning curve that those guys will go through but I'm excited about what Coach Klemm brings, the mindset. And that's really what you're trying to create as a football team, but especially upfront, you're creating a mindset, creating an attitude here as you go through the practices." 

DeBoer on the player he's been excited about early on along the Tide's offensive front

One of those players upfront DeBoer is excited about is Cal Poly transfer center Racin Delgatty. He made this apparent when pointing out the traits that have stood out to him about the 6-foot-3, 301- pounder earlier on during this offseason and spring.

"He's come in and really built himself up," DeBoer said. "I think the strength & conditioning program was a big part that he was excited about and he took advantage of that. The last few weeks you could really see him take some strides there with his strength numbers, and I think that's probably given him confidence when he's stepped onto the football field. And again, we haven't even put pads on and it's hard to evaluate that right now. But him going out there and making the calls, getting things started, that's what a center's gotta do and he's done a good job so far." 

This endorsement of Delgatty seems fitting after it was reported that the redshirt junior added 10 pounds to his frame since arriving in Tuscaloosa and going through Alabama's 4th quarter program, after previously weighing 290 pounds during his days in the Big Sky Conference when logging over 1,316 snaps, allowing just one sack and two quarterback hits in three seasons. Delgatty's continued growth and ability to gain comfortability will be key as many expect him to be the head of the Tide's operation as the starting center. The question around Delgatty and his four potential linemen mates upfront for DeBoer, Klemm, and Grubb will be: How quickly can this use come together as they usher in a new quarterback under center to lead Alabama's offense this fall? And just how effective can it be at protecting the passer behind them and blocking for the skill players who wish to run through the push they aim to create? The answer to these questions will either make or break Alabama's season in 2026.