Spring practice brought more clarity to Alabama's offensive line than many thought. Outside of Michael Carroll, it was expected to be an open competition for the four other spots.
Instead, both Racin Delgatty and Jackson Lloyd emerged quickly as projected starters for the Crimson Tide.
Lloyd, a former Top 50 overall recruit in the 2025 recruiting class, was anointed as Alabama's left tackle by OC Ryan Grubb shortly after spring practice began. Grubb has never shied away from making more declarative statements than Kalen DeBoer would probably prefer and is always a good example of why Nick Saban so rarely allowed his assistant coaches to speak to the media.
DeBoer pushed back on that a couple of weeks later, hoping to make a point to Lloyd that Grubb's comments shouldn't change the work he's putting in.
It's clear from DeBoer's comments about Lloyd at SEC Media Days on Wednesday that the rising sophomore took his head coach's warning to heart. In an appearance on Mac and Cube, DeBoer was asked about Lloyd's response after being "named" the starter at LT:
"You see the response that a kid like Jackson Lloyd has. A guy that -- your left tackle. There's levels of pressure that each guy has, and that tackle position is a perceived high-level, especially on the left side with a right-hand quarterback," DeBoer said, via 247's Mike Rodak. "The way he went about it -- Jackson never flinched the rest of spring. He just kept being who he was, and kept improving. He had that humility, and that brought out another level of leadership in him, which we needed to have on that offensive line."
Jackson Lloyd appears to have strengthend his grip on Alabama's LT spot
Based on DeBoer's comments, there appears to be little doubt that Lloyd will be the Crimson Tide's starter at left tackle this fall. That gives Alabama some much-needed clarity on the offensive line heading into fall camp, which should allow DeBoer, Grubb, and new OL coach Adrian Klemm to maximize the number of reps for the starting five.
Carroll, Lloyd, and Delgatty seem like locks to start. Lloyd at LT, Delgatty at C, and Carroll at either RG or RT.
Junior Will Sanders is the perceived favorite at left guard, and he's a guy that DeBoer mentioned by name during his press conference on Wednesday. On the right side, Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James is the early favorite to start at RT with Carroll at guard, but Carroll gives the coaching staff flexibility with his ability - and willingness - to play either inside or outside. That could open the door for SEC transfers Ethan Fields (Ole Miss) and Nick Brooks (Texas) to challenge for the starting spot at RG.
The most positive point about Lloyd is that he didn't allow Grubb's comments to get in his head. It would have been human nature for him to relax a bit after getting that recognition from his coordinator. Instead, Lloyd has continued to focus on improving his craft and becoming the best player he can be.
If Lloyd can lock things down at LT, protecting the blindside of a new starting QB in Austin Mack or Keelon Russell, then a major question mark up front for the Crimson Tide will have been answered quickly.
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