Kalen DeBoer explains why a multi-year starter was running with the second team during Alabama’s fourth fall camp practice
One of Alabama’s multi-year starters along the offensive line was running with the second group on Sunday.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s expecting to field one of the better offensive lines in 2025. The Crimson Tide have three full-time starters back from last year’s group, as well as two others who played at least 290 snaps and started at least two games. Not only that, but the additions of Kam Dewberry, who has started in the SEC, and freshmen such as Michael Carroll and Jackson Lloyd gives UA much-needed competition and depth.
One of the three returning starters is Jaeden Roberts, who has over 1,000 snaps and 21 starts in his career. All of that experience over the last two years has come at right guard, making him one of Alabama’s most seasoned players on the roster. That’s why it was strange to see him lining up with the second group during Sunday’s practice.
It was strange because the five players running with the ones are all in competition to be a starter or have already solidified the job. Kadyn Proctor was at left tackle, Parker Brailsford was at center and Wilkin Formby was at right tackle. Then Dewberry, who is battling with Geno VanDeMark to take over for the departed Tyler Booker, was at left guard. Makes sense. But instead of Roberts being in his usage spot at right guard, it was VanDeMark.
That development stood out enough for Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer to be asked about it following practice.
“I think you’ve got the competitive piece, and then you also have the, this is what we would do, and just guys learning, cross-training different positions,” DeBoer told reporters. “Geno’s got to play center, on top of guard. He’s a Swiss Army knife that way, and really important to us. I really like the way he’s developed coming back from a year ago. He clamps onto you, and he stays connected. That’s something I’ve seen really with his growth. He’s comfortable in all those spots, and playing aggressively, playing confidently.”
As long as he’s healthy, Roberts should continue to act as a starter. I’d expect that to continue to be at right guard too. DeBoer was also asked about the possibility of cross-training other guys like Roberts and Dewberry, and his answer wasn’t really surprising.
“That’s a good question,” DeBoer responded. “I think they’d probably start out at their spots and get most of the snaps. But there might be small situations, as we go through camp and see how it goes and you want to distribute some reps there just to get a guy in a pinch, some reps that he’s comfortable with if he’s put in that spot.”
This is why VanDeMark is such a critical piece to Alabama’s offensive line. His ability to play all three spots on the interior is vital, whether it’s as a starting, rotational or depth piece. Here’s what I said about it in my practice observations earlier on Sunday:
“One thing to point out is that we’ve now seen Geno VanDeMark get first-team reps at all three interior spots. He was with the first-team at left guard on Day 1, took over for Brailsford, who was participating in the summer commencement ceremony and didn’t practice on Saturday, at center and as of Sunday, was running with the first team at right guard. Meanwhile, I’ve only noticed Kam Dewberry at left guard. Some might say that could be signaling Dewberry as the trending favorite, but I don’t necessarily think that’s the case (although, I do believe he’ll ultimately win that job). Remember, even if VanDeMark wins the competition at left guard, he’ll be the one to slide over to center or right guard in the event of an injury to Brailsford or Roberts with Dewberry replacing him at left guard. So Geno needs as many reps as possible at all three spots.”
It’s also worth noting that Olaus Alinen was seen playing both right and left tackle on Sunday after getting work at left guard during the media viewing period on Thursday. So between those two players, you seemingly have an immediate backup at all five positions along the offensive line. Here’s a recap:
- LT: Kadyn Proctor / Olaus Alinen
- LG: Geno VanDeMark OR Kam Dewberry
- C: Parker Brailsford / Geno VanDeMark
- RG: Jaeden Roberts / Geno VanDeMark
- RT: Wilkin Formby / Olaus Alinen
So Alinen and the loser of the left guard battle will likely be the sixth and seventh offensive linemen when the season kicks off against Florida State on Aug. 30 — or that’s where it seems to be trending, at least. From there, we’ll have to see if younger guys such as Carroll, Lloyd and Will Sanders can push for those roles.
