Five things to know about Alabama's offensive line in 2017
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Editor's Note: With preseason practice less than two weeks away, BamaInsider is previewing the upcoming Alabama football season by looking at each position group on offense, defense and special teams. This installment is on the offensive line.
Also read | Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers & Tight ends
Where Alabama stands
Alabama experienced mixed results across the offensive line this spring, especially on the right side. On one hand, the Tide returns four starting lineman from last season. Jonah Williams will move over to the left side of the line to fill in for departed Cam Robinson, who started every game of his three-year college career at left tackle. Ross Pierschbacher and Bradley Bozeman will retain their starting spots at left guard and center respectively. Lester Cotton should also lock up one of the two remaining spots after starting a combined five games at left and right guard last season.
After that, it’s pretty much up for grabs. Alabama experimented with a couple of options during the spring, using Matt Womack and Deonte Brown as the fifth lineman. Womack started two scrimmages at right tackle with Cotton at right guard. Brown started the second scrimmage at right guard as Cotton was moved to right tackle. The Tide also brought in three five-star offensive linemen in this year's recruiting class. Freshmen Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills have both impressed Alabama coaches this summer, while Elliot Baker was rated the No. 2 JUCO prospect in the class. Redshirt freshman Scott Lashley also figures to compete for a starting spot as well.
“I feel like coming out of the spring that we had four players who really demonstrated that they could play winning football in the offensive line,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said during SEC Media Days. “And I felt like we had four or five other players who certainly showed signs that they could be that player that made the fifth starter, whether at right guard or right tackle."
Where Alabama would like to be
Alabama will have to figure out who the fifth starter will be. The Tide’s offensive line was less than convincing during A-Day, allowing a combined 12 sacks while blocking for a combined 69 rushing yards on the afternoon.
Considering all of Cotton’s starts have come at both of the guard positions, it would make sense to keep him there this season if possible. That would seem to give Womack and Leatherwood an edge over Brown. However, Brown was brought on in the second scrimmage in order to help Alabama establish more of a push up front. If the 6-foot-4, 350-pound lineman can keep his weight under control, he might be the piece Alabama needs to open up holes for its talented backfield.
Saban said during SEC Media Days that the decision for the final spot will be made during fall camp. With so many options, the competition should be the biggest battles up until the season opener against Florida State on Sept. 2.
Biggest question
Can Leatherwood follow in Williams and Robinson’s footsteps and start right away as a freshman? The 6-foot-6, 322-pounder has looked the part of an SEC lineman since he stepped on campus in December. Entering Alabama as the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 4 overall recruit in this year’s class, many expected Leatherwood to earn a starting spot this spring. That’s a tall order considering the talent that Tide has at the position, and ultimately the early enrollee didn’t live up to his lofty expectations.
However, the Pensacola, Fla., native has grown into the college game over the summer and according to sources close to the program has impressed Alabama’s coaching staff. It will be interesting to see if Leatherwood can carry that momentum into the season and become the second true freshman to start at right tackle for Alabama in as many years. While Leatherwood’s extra time on campus will give him an advantage over Wills, the fellow true freshman has also drawn rave reviews.
"We have a couple new freshman that have shown some potential over the summer," Saban said. "And it's all going to be about who can develop and who can play with the most consistency and who is the best fit with the other four players that have all started games for us in the past.”
Projected depth chart
LT
1. Jonah Williams, So., 6-5, 301 pounds
2. Scott Lashley, R-Fr., 6-7, 310 pounds
3. Elliot Baker, Jr., 6-7, 302 pounds
LG
1. Ross Pierschbacher, R-Jr., 6-4, 303 pounds
2. Dallas Warmack, Jr., 6-2, 308 pounds
3. Richie Petitbon, R-So., 6-4, 308p pounds
C
1. Bradley Bozeman, R-Sr., 6-5, 314 pounds
2. J.C. Hassenauer, Sr., 6-2, 295 pounds
3. Chris Owens, R-Fr., 6-3, 307 pounds
RG
1. Lester Cotton, Jr., 6-4, 324 pounds
2. Deonte Brown, R-Fr., 6-4, 350 pounds
3. Brandon Kennedy, R-So., 6-3, 305 pounds
RT
1. Alex Leatherwood, Fr., 6-6, 322 pounds
2. Matt Womack, R-So., 6-7, 324 pounds
3. Jedrick Wills, Fr., 6-5, 314 pounds
Prediction
Leatherwood starts Alabama’s season opener at right tackle. In case you missed the projected depth chart above, we have Leatherwood narrowly beating out Womack for the final starting spot on the offensive line.
Womack will most likely enter fall camp as the favorite to win the position, but Leatherwood’s surge into the spotlight seems more and more inevitable every day. If he does end up earning the nod out of camp, Leatherwood will face a daunting first test in his game. Florida State finished No. 2 in the nation behind Alabama with 51 sacks last season.