One of Alabama’s main objectives this fall is to improve in the trenches. If preseason accolades are any indication, the Crimson Tide appears to be in good shape.

Alabama landed three players on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, presented to college football’s top interior lineman. The Crimson Tide are represented by offensive linemen J.C. Latham and Tyler Booker as well as defensive linemen Jaheim Oatis.

Latham is coming off a breakout sophomore season and is already being projected as a possible top-10 pick in next year’s NFL draft. The 6-foot-6, 335-pound lineman started all 13 games at right tackle last season, recording 29 knockdown blocks. He finished second on the team with an 84.6 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, allowing 12 quarterback pressures and no sacks over 517 pass-blocking snaps.

After splitting time with the first-team offense during his debut season last year, Booker is expected to step into a full-time starting role this fall. The 6-foot-5, 335-pound guard earned Freshman All-SEC honors last year, registering a team-high 89.1 pass-blocking grade from PFF while surrendering just five total pressures and no sacks over 232 pass-blocking snaps.

Oatis underwent a drastic physical transformation en route to earning Freshman All-SEC honors last season. The 6-foot-5, 328-pound defensive tackle recorded 29 stops, including two tackles for a loss and a sack, to go with four quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups.

Alabama has produced six Outland winners in program history, including five during Nick Saban’s tenure as head coach. Offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood was the Tide’s most recent winner, taking home the honor in 2020. Other past Alabama recipients include defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (2018), offensive tackle Cam Robinson (2016), offensive tackle Barrett Jones (2011), offensive tackle Andre Smith (2008) and offensive tackle Chris Samuels (1999).