The pipeline of talent flowed from Florida high school powerhouse IMG Academy up the interstate, north, then west to Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban took notice after Evan Neal led to JC Latham led to Tyler Booker, all elite offensive linemen coming from the same spot. So, Saban called Bobby Acosta, their coach at IMG, and relayed a compliment.

“‘Coach, you did a great job.’ Boom, hung up the phone,” Acosta jokingly recalled to AL.com last week.

As No. 4 Alabama has improved each week in the 2023 season, so has its offensive line. Of the 43 sacks the Tide has allowed (114th most entering bowl season), 37 came in the before Nov. 11 against Kentucky. Breakouts like Kadyn Proctor and Jaeden Roberts have come on to open rushing lanes and keep Jalen Milroe upright.

But the anchors have been Latham at right tackle and Booker at left guard, their bond picking up right where it left off with the Ascenders. Latham is the 22nd-rated offensive lineman nationally and Booker is 54th (minimum 250 snaps per Pro Football Focus).

“Week-by-week we’ve been getting better and I’m just making sure everybody remembers what people were saying about us in the beginning of the year, you know what I mean? JC and I came out and put out a lot of lofty expectations for us. We didn’t meet them at first but we’re meeting them now and just, let’s keep proving people wrong. Let’s keep changing their mind. Let’s keep playing Alabama football,” Booker said in late November.

Overall, there’ll be eight former IMG players on the sidelines in Pasadena, Calif., Monday night for the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Five of them are on the No. 4 Tide: Latham, Booker, linebacker Jihaad Campbell, and underclassmen Dezz Ricks and Jax Porter. Michigan will have quarterback J.J. McCarthy, backup lineman Greg Crippen and sophomore Keon Sabb.

Earlier this month, McCarthy texted Booker when the matchup was revealed. Three years ago, Crippen, Latham and Booker blocked for McCarthy as IMG won a national title.

The team had a specialty package, named after their offensive line coach George Hegamin, a former tackle for the Dallas Cowboys. Latham would be a fullback, and lead-blocker for Booker, who lined up a few yards in the backfield. It was sparsely used in games, but Acosta remembered a 99-yard practice run from Booker. The team also had a screen designed for Latham.

“I’m not going to lie, it was like uncomfortable for how comfortable I was back there,” McCarthy said Friday. “They’re tremendous football players, and I can’t wait to see how they hold up against our defensive line.”

For Latham, he’ll get a rematch against Michigan linebacker Junior Colson. As Booker described it, in 2020, when IMG played Colson’s Ravenwood (Tenn.) High, Latham whiffed on a block that would’ve led to an inside zone run for Booker.

They clicked instantly at IMG once Booker arrived from Connecticut. With the pandemic restricting family visits, the pair meshed with Latham the “little puppy” and Booker the “serious, business-type” according to former coaches. On Thursday, Booker called Latham the “worst fullback of all time,” but admitted they’re like brothers.

“They were close, you saw one you knew the other was right next door,” Acosta said. “They kind of have a different kind of personality but JC makes Booker laugh.”

Ahead of most pregame warmups this fall, Booker and Latham have been side-by-side again. Before players put on pads, the duo has led Alabama’s offensive line in a march around the field.

With Latham a potential first-round NFL Draft pick, there could be one last walk at the Rose Bowl.

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