General
Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer saw a wealth of experience on the right side of his offensive line early in spring practice.
“That right side now is kind of the veteran side with (Wilkin Formby) and J-Rob (Jaeden Roberts) and Parker (Brailsford) at center,” DeBoer said in March.
Roberts returns as the right guard after starting last year for the Crimson Tide. Formby started at right tackle early in the year, but moved to the bench behind Elijah Pritchett after struggling.
After Pritchett left for Nebraska, Formby is the presumed starter for 2025. After practice on Wednesday, the Tuscaloosa native reflected on his 2024 campaign.
“I had a bumpy start,” Formby said. “But I think that was good. It was a necessity to learn and grow. I’m happy with where I finished the season and I wanted to enter the offseason at a good spot, a positive spot.”
Formby is entering his third season with the Crimson Tide. Roberts is going into his fifth, after taking over as the primary right guard last year.
According to Formby, the two have built chemistry through the past few years.
“A lot of people don’t realize that we’ve been playing together for so long, because when I first got here, he was with the twos and we were playing a lot with each other during spring and during fall camp,” Formby said. “…It’s awesome playing next to J-Rob. We’ve got good chemistry and he just brings that energy.”
Roberts, long known as one of the strongest players for the Tide, dealt with injuries throughout the 2024 season, playing through most of the pain. He said Wednesday that the injures affected him, but he’s “100%” entering the year.
The senior from Houston said his biggest point of emphasis during spring practice was improving his hands.
“For offensive linemen, our hands are our weapons,” Roberts said. “And the only way that we can capitalize on that is to work on what we do, day-in, day-out. Going against the defensive line or linebackers, just using our hands as our biggest weapon, and if you don’t have hands, then you can’t be a great offensive lineman.”
Roberts and Formby said they’re working well together, even conducting a sweating contest during spring practice. Roberts told reporters that Formby has been stepping into a larger leadership role for some of the younger players in the group.
And as the longest-tenured member of the offensive line, Roberts was putting much of the burden on himself.
“It’s kind of a big responsibility,” Roberts said. “I am one of the older guys on the line. With just the right side, there’s a lot of experience right there. Just being the right guard, I definitely have the experience, and the tackle has the experience too. We’re just working hard and trying to get ready.”
Alabama is scheduled to continue spring practice through April 12, when it will hold an open session for A-Day at Bryant-Denny Stadium. A-Day will not be game or scrimmage this season, and won’t be televised.
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