Alabama Starting Center Parker Brailsford Declares for NFL Draft

Alabama starting center Parker Brailsford is the first Crimson Tide underclassman to make his NFL draft decision, with the redshirt junior forgoing his remaining year of eligibility and declaring for the 2026 NFL draft, per his Instagram.

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Brailsford, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound center originally from Mesa, Arizona, committed to play for head coach Kalen DeBoer when DeBoer was at Washington, signing with the Huskies as a member of their 2022 recruiting class. He redshirted in 2022 before becoming a full-time starter in 2023, where he started all 15 games for Washington as the Huskies appeared in the CFP National Championship against Michigan. He was named All-Pac-12 Second Team, a Freshman All-American in 2023, and was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.

Brailsford transferred to Alabama in 2024, following his head coach from Seattle to Tuscaloosa. He started all but one game for the Crimson Tide at center, with the only game he missed being Alabama's 56-0 victory over Eastern Illinois this past November.

In 2025, Brailsford was named a permanent team captain, was selected All-SEC Third Team by conference coaches, was named to watchlists for the Outland Trophy and the Remington Trophy, was named a Midseason All-American by The Sporting News, and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice.

Brailsford is the sixth offensive lineman to depart Tuscaloosa after the 2025-26 season, and the first to do so via the NFL draft. Alabama now has 12 offensive linemen on the roster for the 2026 season:

Kadyn Proctor*
Michael Carroll
Jackson Lloyd
William Sanders
Casey Poe
Arkel Anugwom
Mal Waldrep
Bryson Cooley**
Chris Booker**
Jared Doughty**
Bear Fretwell**
Tyrell Miller (JUCO)

*Pending NFL draft decision.
**Incoming freshmen.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.