Alabama football’s offensive line wants to be stronger and more aggressive in 2023. Nick Saban has said he wants his team to run the ball better this season, and the line is all in.

“I think every offensive line in college football wants to be able to dominate,” center Seth McLaughlin said Monday ahead of Alabama’s first game of the season. “We’ve been asked about that a lot. I think that’s the mindset we have. We’re going to go out there and try to play our brand of football and do what the coaches have talked to us about and play hard.”

McLaughlin and right tackle JC Latham provide most of the offensive line’s experience this season. They’ll be joined by a group that includes Tyler Booker and Darrian Dalcourt at the guard spots.

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Left tackle has been a bit of a battle, with true freshman Kadyn Proctor and redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett competing for the spot. McLaughlin praised Proctor when asked on Monday.

“It’s a big role to come in as a freshman and compete for a starting spot at The University of Alabama. It’s a hard thing even for older guys, too. I’m been proud of the way he’s taken things in stride and he’s been coachable. We’ve helped him out. He hasn’t had an ‘I know everything’ type mentality and I think he’s taken coaching points from everybody. I’m really proud to see the way he’s progressing.”

Head coach Nick Saban has said positive things about the line throughout preseason camp. He has mentioned he wants more depth in the group, but was happy with his starters.

On Monday, he was asked what attitude he wanted to see from the offensive line in 2023.

“Well, I would say that’s up to them,” Saban said. “They want to be dominant and physical— that’s part of the identity we’re trying to create and want to create at every position, not just the offensive line.”

The Crimson Tide kicks off the 2023 campaign at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium against Middle Tennessee State. The game will be aired on the SEC Network.

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