Alabama Fall Camp Battle + Player Making a Leap, Day 3

Each day of fall camp, we will look at a battle for a position or role on the Alabama football team along with a player who is making a leap. Most players improve year-to-year but you are always hopeful some critical players are making a big leap forward in their development. Fall camp is the time to do it.

Today’s Alabama Fall Camp Battle

Prior to the beginning of Alabama’s Fall Camp, this was the thinking at offensive tackle — Kadyn Proctor would soon resume his starting role at left tackle and then, on the other side, returnees Wilkin Formby and Elijah Pritchett would battle it out for the starting assignment. This was how it was framed, by me and others, let’s just call it the conventional wisdom.

Alas, it could look a little different. And that may be a good thing.

In an interview with assembled media following day 3 of Fall Camp today, Offensive Line Coach Chris Kapilovic said he would absolutely not rule out a “rotation” at the offensive tackle spot if three guys were playing well enough to deserve the snaps. He also went on to praise both Elijah Pritchett and Wilkin Formby, reporting that both are making positive progress in their respective developments.

So the battle may not necessarily be at right tackle, it may not necessarily be for a starting spot. It may be for snap share. And Alabama may not be looking for a second tackle, it sounds possible that Alabama may have three.

We all know Proctor’s story and his enormous upside. Let’s recall though that Elijah Pritchett was also a high value prospect. He showed up immediately impressing. A serious injury may have slowed his development. Could have even affected his play in 2023 in terms of simply not having a sum total of practice reps at Alabama that could serve to help him in the games. Formby was also a big time get. He has done nothing but look like a future starter since the day he showed up.

It would not surprise, at all, if all three players developed into star performers. This battle may be simply for snap share, not to avoid the bench.

Making the Leap

During media viewing periods on Day One, redshirt freshman Roq Montgomery spent time at center, even in the Center2 role behind anticipated starter, Parker Brailsford. On Day Two of Alabama Fall Camp, Roq was back at his more-normal guard spot while Michigan State transfer Geno VanDerMark took snaps at center. Today, Day 3, Roq was back at center.

The point is … clearly Roq is in the plans with the 2s. It may be in the crucial backup center role. Alabama fans know all about how big it would be to have a lot of confidence in the second center. Or, Roq may be a top backup at the guard spot while Geno mans center. But clearly, Roq is a 2.

He’s made the leap. Like so many freshman linemen, Roq redshirted, spending the year working on his body. About the best you can expect or hope for a redshirt freshman lineman, is that he rises to the level of high value backup in his year 2. I would say lineman who can be described that way are either on track, or ahead of the curve, in terms of their development. You redshirt, then you put yourself in position to play. Ideally, year 3, you are contending for a starting role. That’s how it should work at this level. It’s a developmental sport and this is a developmental position. It usually takes time.

But it always takes a leap forward. Roq seems, today, entrenched with the 2s. At one spot or another.

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