Alabama honing in on decision that could drastically change the offensive line by adding as ‘super competitive’ of a player as you’ll ever see
Alabama has an ongoing competition happening at right tackle, and there’s one player who competing who could drastically change the outlook of that group.
The Alabama Crimson Tide is still solidifying the starting lineups at a few positions. Yes, there have been consistent starters through the first two weeks of the season, but whether it’s a starter struggling, an injury or a younger player beginning to emerge, competition continues as Kalen DeBoer and company prepare for a Power Four matchup against Wisconsin.
One position that remains in an active competition is right tackle. Wilkin Formby, who got two starts and played 291 snaps in 2024, has started the first two games, but the five-star freshman Michael Carroll has now positioned himself to push for the job. That news was confirmed by Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on Monday while speaking to the media.
Michael Carroll making a move
“100 percent I see that as a competition,” Grubb said. “All these guys are competing for spots. I thought Michael did a great job, there are some things he certainly needs to clean up. The thing I like about Michael is he does compete. What you saw on the field in the game is how Michael practices too. Super competitive, physical kid that did a really nice job for the first time.”
Soon after Grubb spoke to the media, DeBoer got up on the podium and, amongst other questions, was asked about Carroll’s progress. Not only did he leave glowing reviews about the first-year offensive lineman, but he also took the opportunity to speak about the importance of competition.
“I love the way plays. He plays hard, he plays really hard,” DeBoer told reporters. “He, along with, talk about Lotzeir (Brooks), we play a lot of freshmen, a lot of young guys in a lot of different areas, special teams, offense, defense. I think he was one of those guys that, again, has taken those steps. He did a nice job, got his first real action at the college level.
“Like we talked about with the quarterback, the competition helps everyone. It helps Michael and his motivation to continue to get better every single day and be his best. It helps Wilkin. At guard we had guys rotating in as well between Jaeden (Roberts) and Geno (VanDeMark). Across the board it sends a message that we’re gonna keep trying to find the guys that give us the best chance to win.”
What Carroll provides
Carroll was a five-star prospect for a reason. Three of the four recruiting services at the time, with the exception of ESPN, had him in that range. ESPN wasn’t too far off either, as he was still ranked the No. 1 interior offensive lineman while checking in at No. 70 overall. Physically, there’s a lot to like with Carroll checking in at 6-foot-6, 321 pounds.
Maybe more importantly, the former IMG Academy standout brings the right stuff mentally. He’s mean, he’s tough and he brings a competitive spirit that can be infectious to the rest of your offense. Offensive line coaches love guys who play with grit and nastiness, and that’s exactly how Carroll approaching the game. Plus, the guy’s always trying to get better. That’s a combination you can win with.
Carroll hasn’t won the competition yet. Formby is a former top-100 talent as well, and he’s got some experience that helps his case. But as DeBoer pointed out, competition breeds excellence. Either Carroll is going to win the job and bring that competitive spirit to the starting lineup, or Formby will have to improve enough to hold onto the starting job. Either way, both players should benefit from this development.
