Lloyd Unchanging in His Approach Despite Starting Endorsement

TUSCALOSOA, Ala. - After Alabama's third spring practice, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb showed no hesitation in naming Jackson Lloyd Alabama's starter at left tackle, replacing probable first-round pick Kadyn Proctor. After Alabama's 11th spring practice, Lloyd told reporters that "nothing has changed" with his process or how he conducts himself on the field.

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"Nothing has changed. Since the day I got in here, I've been trying to be the best player I can be," Lloyd told reporters after Tuesday's practice. "I don't really pay attention to any of that, keeping the same mindset. Nothing has changed for me.

"If you start paying attention too much to that stuff, it gets in your head. I've been blocking that out, coming in, and working every day," he said.

Lloyd, a former five-star tackle prospect from Carmel, California, spent his freshman campaign backing up Kadyn Proctor in 2025. Proctor played the vast majority of Alabama's snaps at left tackle, starting every game in 2025. The only time Proctor wasn't protecting Ty Simpson's blind side was when he took snaps in Alabama's "Krispy package," and he was the ball carrier, which only happened five times last season.

He has a new offensive line coach this season in former USC offensive analyst Adrian Klemm, who has received rave reviews from the Tide's players so far this spring.

"He's been great," Lloyd said. "He brings a lot of energy on the field, coaches up really hard, and explains everything really well. What we're doing, why we're doing it, and off the field, he's super easy to talk to. When you're up in his office one-on-one, he's easy to talk to, and you get feedback really well. So, I feel like it's a really good connection we have."

Even with the endorsement from Grubb and consistent reps with Alabama's first-team offense, Lloyd still comes in every day and works like he's still fighting for a starting job with the Crimson Tide.

"You can always work on everything, so I've been trying to improve everything, obviously, but I'd say the two main things are using my hands better in the run and pass game. I feel like I've taken strides in the right direction, but obviously, a lot of work to keep going."

Alabama will hold its annual A-Day scrimmage on Saturday, April 11, at 1:00 p.m. CT.

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_.