DeBoer Explains Roberts with Second Team OL

Alabama starting right guard Jaeden Roberts was spotted working with the second team offensive line during Sunday's practice, riasing questions about the guard's status with the first team offensive line.

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During the 2024 season, Roberts started 12 games, only missing Alabama's win over Mercer. When Roberts wasn't playing, Michigan State transfer Geno VanDeMark was in his place. VanDeMark also started one game at left guard against USF when Tyler Booker played left tackle for the injured Kadyn Proctor.

During media availability on Sunday, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about Roberts' demotion to the second unit.

""I think you got the competitive piece, and then you also have the this is what we would do of just guys learning, cross-training positions," DeBoer said. "Geno's got to play center on top of guard. So he's a Swiss Army knife that way and important to us. I really like the way he's developed coming back from a year ago. He clamps onto you and stays connected. It's something I have really seen with his growth. And then he's comfortable in all those spots, playing aggressively and playing confidently."

VanDeMark, if he doesn't win the starting left guard position, will be Alabama's sixth offensive lineman, and the primary backup at left guard, center, and right guard, explaining his practicing with the starting unit on Sunday.

NIL and the transfer portal has ravaged depth across college football, especially along the offensive line. With VanDeMark training at three positions, could we also see Kam Dewberry or Olaus Alinen cross-train at both left and right guard?

"That's a good question. I think they'd probably start out at their spots and get most of the snaps," DeBoer continued. "But there might be small situations, as we go through camp and see how it goes and you want to distribute some reps there just to get a guy in a pinch, some reps that he's comfortable with if he's put in that spot."

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_.