When asked about the state of the Alabama football offensive line, Kalen DeBoer began by praising the defensive line, describing "matchups every single program in the country is going to have an issue with." For an offensive line that had its share of struggles in 2025, a line that is completely revamped from a year ago with one returning starter and a handful of transfers, freshmen and inexperienced returners looking to push into the two-deep with a new position coach in Adrian Klemm, DeBoer's focus on the defensive line doesn't bring much ease. Nor does DeBoer letting the line off the hook saying "some plays" in the run game were "really not their fault." "It might look like it, but it's not," DeBoer said, doubling down. But when it comes to a makeshift offensive line looking to find cohesion, DeBoer seems closer to finding his first five options to work with. The first team offensive line, DeBoer said, has found "a consistency with who's in the rotation, who's getting the snaps." Less so with the second team where there has been a plethora of young players vying for depth chart positions. Three spots on the offensive line seem filled. Jackson Lloyd is seemingly locked in at left tackle. So are Michael Carroll at right guard and Cal Poly transfer Racin Delgatty at center. Nick Brooks and Jayvin James, and William Sanders and Mal Waldrep are vying for the right tackle and left guard spots.
The first five is a starting point for Alabama's offensive line. The cohesion, the oneness comes next. "They understand that there's a lot of eyes on them," DeBoer said. "A lot of focus on them as far as, you know, what our team can be, and so they're going at it, accepting it and continuing to improve every single day." But that cohesion or oneness is "definitely not there yet," DeBoer said, even if efforts are being made each practice to take steps forward. "You can see the execution, or lack of execution, isn't quote there yet," DeBoer said. "But that's why we practice. You know, this is practice eight. It's going to go fast, so there's urgency level that these guys are putting the pedal down every single day, working on becoming one. 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 or Instagram @colingaytnews. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Answers coming for Alabama football offensive line, 'execution' next