Alabama center Parker Brailsford understands that offensive linemen often get noticed mainly for mistakes like penalties and sacks.
This week, the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide’s blockers are definitely in the spotlight for such reasons.
Due to injuries to tackles Kadyn Proctor and Elijah Pritchett, the offensive line had to make changes. They allowed four sacks against South Florida and committed nine penalties, with two of them nullifying touchdowns.
Brailsford and his teammates are eager to return to being less noticed, starting with Alabama’s first road game on Saturday against Wisconsin.
“To be honest, when you guys (reporters) don’t mention us, that’s the best outcome,” said Brailsford, who transferred from Washington with coach Kalen DeBoer.
“When our running backs, quarterback, and receivers get attention, I see that as our success too, because we need to do our job to let them do theirs.”
Alabama hopes the poor performance in their 42-16 win, which was a close game until the fourth quarter, was just a temporary issue and not a sign of things to come. The starting unit had only practiced together a few times before this game.
The statistics were rough for the offensive line: six holding penalties (one was canceled out by a defensive penalty), an illegal block in the back, and two false starts.
Proctor, who played as a freshman last season, has been out for the first two games with a left shoulder injury. DeBoer expects Proctor to be nearly ready to play by the end of the week.
Pritchett was initially held out to recover from a minor injury but was put in at the end of the game. The Tide managed to score 21 points in the last 5:50, including two long touchdown runs.
Alabama moved Tyler Booker from left guard to left tackle, and he was replaced by Michigan State transfer Geno VanDeMark, who started six games last season for the Spartans. Wilkin Formby, a redshirt freshman from Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, started at right tackle.
