Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer addresses uncertainty at center position
HOOVER, Ala. — Between one center missing part of spring practice for personal reasons and another exiting via the NCAA spring transfer portal, the position appears somewhat tenuous for Alabama football as the Crimson Tide approaches summer workouts.
However, coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed Wednesday at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am that Parker Brailsford, the talented transfer from Washington who did not participate on A-Day after a personal leave from the team, will be back with the Crimson Tide in June when the team reconvenes for the summer.
"Absolutely," DeBoer said. "No question."
That's welcome news given that center James Brockermeyer, who competed with Brailsford for a starting role in the spring before Brailsford took leave, entered the transfer portal and will play at TCU this fall.
"Every player's got their reasons for wanting to test the waters and check things out," DeBoer said of Brockermeyer. "... I think we'll have some guys within our team that can bridge that gap."
Last year's center, Seth McLaughlin, transferred to Ohio State. Soon after DeBoer was hired to replace retired coach Nick Saban in January, Brailsford announced his transfer to Alabama. Brailsford was a third-team All-Pac-12 performer last season and brings a wealth of knowledge about DeBoer's offense to the Crimson Tide offensive line.
His return to the team is crucial for an offensive line that also lost its top offensive tackle in JC Latham.
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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer addresses uncertainty at center spot
