There was confidence among Alabama football players and fans felt alike when crunch time rolled around and the Crimson Tide had Bryce Young at quarterback.

On the road in 2021 at Auburn, and last September at Texas. Drives became moments and lore for Young, one of the finest starters in the Nick Saban era. While UA looks for a new quarterback ahead of the 2023 season, sophomore offensive lineman Tyler Booker is seeking out that confidence again.

“That’s real. Like Bryce had that look,” Booker said on Wednesday’s edition of The Next Round. “Bryce made you feel comfortable. Bryce made you feel like, ‘OK, we’re gonna win this game because Bryce is back there.’ And I’m just looking for whoever in that room gives me that look. We haven’t seen it yet, but I see a lot of potential in a lot of those guys.”

Booker was asked about the most newsworthy topic in camp and deferred commenting on the actual quarterback competition that’s between Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson. Booker did note that one of the quarterbacks will help win the locker room once the defense respects him and is more aware when they’re in the backfield.

It echoed what Saban said on Tuesday when providing the latest update to the QB battle. Alabama’s head coach wants a player to take ownership of the spot, or rather, “force” coaches into naming a starter.

Booker mainly reaffirmed how the offensive line is eager to turn the running offense into a strength and take pressure off whoever is running the offense. Alums Landon Dickerson and Evan Neal made appearances at camp in the offseason and preached how Alabama’s current line has to “uphold the standard.” DJ Fluker stopped by in the spring and preached “having fun with it.”

“That run-the-ball-down-your-throat way of playing of Alabama. We really didn’t have that last year, but this year we definitely do with me stepping up as a leader, with JC (Latham) stepping up even more as a leader, Seth (McLaughlin) stepping up even more as a leader,” Booker said on The Next Round.

Saban raised the offensive line’s depth as an area of concern following the Tide’s first scrimmage last Saturday. He said Alabama currently has between six and seven capable linemen. That rotation will partially rely on Booker who earned his way into the starting lineup throughout his freshman year.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].