There hasn't been a player on the Alabama football team who has faced more criticism than redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Wilkin Formby.
Formby has certainly had his struggles this year, but the offensive line issues have not been on him alone.
Formby knows that, but for any young player, the noise can get loud. It had to feel good on Monday to hear his offensive coordinator publicly praise his performance. He probably already heard it in the film room, but to hear it publicly probably felt even better.
Alabama's offensive line looked improved against Oklahoma, despite the loss. Part of the reason for that was a lot less rotating as Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb settled on a starting five of (L-R) Kadyn Proctor, Kam Dewberry, Parker Brailsford, Wilkin Formby, and Michael Carroll, with Geno VanDeMark rotating in for some snaps at left guard in place of Dewberry.
Formby was Alabama's starting right tackle at the beginning of the season, and he's started most of the games there. He had seen some game reps at RG, but Saturday was the first full game he has played at the position. According to Grubb, Formby played a terrific game for the Crimson Tide.
"I thought Wilkin played outstanding," Grubb said on Monday. "The interior of the pocket was as good as it's been all year."
PFF grades back that up. According to PFF, Formby had Alabama's highest pass blocking grade at 89.4, per the Tuscaloosa News' Chase Goodbread.
Alabama may have finally found its best five on the offensive line
While there could be continued rotation at left guard between Dewberry, VanDeMark, and perhaps William Sanders, it looks like Alabama may have finally settled on its offensive line. Only six linemen saw snaps against Oklahoma, and while it was still far from perfect, it was a better performance than we'd seen in recent weeks.
Ty Simpson was still sacked four times, but two of those were due to missed blitz pick-ups by running backs Jam Miller and Daniel Hill.
Formby seems like a better fit inside at guard than he does at tackle. He has struggled mightily to combat the elite edge rushers in the SEC, but he has the power to contend with the interior defensive linemen and doesn't have to worry about getting beat with edge speed anymore.
Carroll will probably take some lumps at right tackle as a true freshman, but nobody will question the effort that he plays with.
If Alabama has finally found the magic combination on the offensive line, that could prove pivotal in the Iron Bowl and in hypothetical College Football Playoff matchups.