Wilkin Formby says ‘Bumpy Start’ was Necessary

Right tackle Wilkin Formby struggled in two career starts during the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide football season.

In the Tide's win over South Florida, Formby allowed five total pressures and accumulated four penalties per Pro Football Focus. Six months later, Formby still uses that game as motivation.

“I had a bumpy start, but I think that was good,” Formby said to reporters on Wednesday. “It was a necessity to learn and grow. I’m happy with where I finished the season. I wanted to enter the offseason at a good spot, a positive spot in the last few games, entering the offseason trying to build up some steam.”

Formby made regular appearances in the lineup after starting the South Florida game but did not start in any more games for the Crimson Tide. According to PFF, Formby charted 291 snaps throughout the season.

Now, with Pritchett departing for Nebraska via the transfer portal, Formby has gotten a lot of looks as a starting right tackle option for Alabama.

“I think I just had to get some of the nerves out,” Formby said. “People don’t realize, when you’re in front of 100,000 people, sometimes, it’s a little stressful. Just experience helped a lot. And becoming confident. If you have a bad game and you mess up, you’re at the bottom, you get to keep going forward from there. That was good for me.”

Formby continues to work in areas where he struggled during the 2024 football season, including power rushing and hand usage. Formby also said he is working with center Parker Brailsford to improve his hand fighting, leverage, and anchoring when combating power rushers (which are featured heavily in the SEC).

“Just because he plays center doesn’t mean I can’t take tools from him,” Formby said.

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_.