Alabama football did not have much room for error this spring, especially at left tackle.
With Kadyn Proctor on the Crimson Tide's injury report and on limited individual reps, Alabama rotated options to pair with Wilkin Formby out wide, from Olaus Alinen and Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom , to true freshmen Jackson Lloyd and Micah DeBose. Even highly-anticipated freshman guard Michael Carroll got reps at left tackle.
But throughout spring, as a rotating cast of characters occupied what is expected to be a point of stability on Alabama 's offensive line heading into 2025, a question was made clear: is the Crimson Tide's current contingency plan in the event of disaster on the offensive line enough? If Proctor or Formby miss time with an injury, does Alabama have enough depth?
Kalen DeBoer's current contingency plan on the offensive line centers around its emphasis on versatility, cross-training players like Alinen and Carroll at both guard and tackle.
"We'll just keep cross-training, dual-training guys," DeBoer said. "We do that across the board at a number of positions. We've got receivers that can play inside, outside. We've got safeties that can play corner, corners that can play nickel, all that kind of stuff. And that's, I think it'll be important for our depth and readiness when different adversity hits us."
It's more versatility than Alabama offensive lineman Ryan Grubb said he initially expected.
Alabama also added Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom before spring, someone who both DeBoer and Grubb describe as a "project-type player" and developmental piece.
DeBoer has also seen development from young players like Carroll and Lloyd who were "thrown in the fire" and will be "phenomenal football players."
But in terms of Alabama's approach to the offensive tackle position and the transfer portal, DeBoer didn't address it specifically. On the Crimson Tide's overall portal approach with the window opening Wednesday, DeBoer said the team has "just a couple scholarships, really, available to us."
"So we'll be careful, and they've got to meet all those areas that we feel good about: the culture of the team, the chemistry from within, the work that's being put in," DeBoer said.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer talks Alabama football offensive line depth post A-Day
