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The Tuscaloosa News
Kalen DeBoer feels Alabama football offensive line has secret weapon heading into 2025
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Kalen DeBoer feels Alabama football offensive line has secret weapon heading into 2025
HOOVER, Ala. − Kalen DeBoer feels good about where Alabama football is on the offensive line.
Yes, the Crimson Tide has four of its five players DeBoer considers "veterans" returning in Kadyn Proctor , Wilkin Formby, Jaeden Roberts and Parker Brailsford . Yes, Alabama has a freshman class of Michael Carroll, Jackson Lloyd, Mal Waldrep and Micah DeBose, all of whom DeBoer said he hopes he doesn't have to use but will be ready. The room, DeBoer said, has the chemistry he wants.
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The Alabama offensive line could build into a strength in 2025, DeBoer said. And his comfort of the room is helped by one player in particular: Olaus Alinen .
Alinen, heading into his third year with Alabama, primarily played guard last season. In the spring, however, with a diminished tackle room − Proctor was limited due to an injury, and much of the group were new freshmen − Alinen repped at tackle, a position to which DeBoer said the offensive lineman has transitioned well.
"One guy that did a nice job this spring and was kind of forced into action, played some tackle, was Olaus," DeBoer said. "He did a really nice job. He's really placed a lot of emphasis on really the body piece and put a lot of work in, whether it's in the weight room, nutrition. And I think that's really transformed and helped him to be able to make that adjustment. ... He's giving us some depth that I think we feel confident in there. He's a versatile guy who can play inside and outside."
Alabama also added Ball State tackle Arkel Anugwom via the transfer portal along with Kam Dewberry, who will compete for a starting spot at right guard with Geno VanDeMark.
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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 feels Alabama football offensive line has secret weapon
