With Kadyn Proctor back in the fold and the presumed starter on the blind side, right tackle is clearly the biggest question mark on Alabama’s 2024 offensive line.
The competition for the all-important right tackle spot currently seems to be between returnees Elijah Pritchett and Wilkin Formby.
Pritchett is a redshirt sophomore from Columbus, Georgia who saw significant playing time last season. He was a 5-star recruit in the class of 2022, ranked as the no. 31 player in the country and the fourth-best offensive tackle in the cycle. Pritchett suffered a serious pectoral injury upon his arrival to campus and had to sit for most of his first season, playing in just two games.
As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Pritchett played in every game with the exception of the Rose Bowl against Michigan. He appeared primarily at left tackle, getting extensive action against Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. Pritchett had some struggles as he acclimated to the speed and explosiveness of SEC pass rushers, which is to be expected for a first-year player.
Elijah Pritchett will need to show significant improvement to be a reliable starter at right tackle this season, but the experience he gained in 2023 should go a long way towards accelerating his development. He got the start at left tackle in this spring’s A-Day game in Proctor’s absence and played fairly well. Pritchett’s playing experience makes him the favorite to earn the starting job, but Wilkin Formby should put up a fight into fall camp.
Formby, a redshirt freshman from Tuscaloosa, saw action in just three games last season and ultimately redshirted. He was impressive in the spring, getting first-team reps at right tackle throughout the practice period as well as on A-Day.
The former 4-star recruit and top-200 player has the ideal frame to play tackle in Kalen DeBoer’s offense and appears to be trending up. With no significant game experience, he will be something of a question mark until the season kicks off, but Formby is a promising prospect who will compete to start on this Bama offensive line.
Other options include redshirt freshmen Miles McVay and Naquil Betrand, as well as highly-touted true freshman Casey Poe.