Alabama Offensive Lineman William Sanders Shares Health Update After Spring

Alabama offensive lineman William Sanders appeared in all 15 games for the Crimson Tide last season, rotating in at offensive guard behind Kam Dewberry. With Dewberry's departure to the NFL, Sanders was expected to compete for Alabama's left guard vacancy, but missed all of spring practice with a lower back injury.

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The redshirt-sophomore is expected to be ready by June and a full-go for football activities by the time Alabama starts fall camp.

"It definitely was rough missing spring,” Sanders said on The Gary Harris Show on Tide 100.9. “I feel like the spring is a big developmental piece in football. I never stopped wanting to get better, so that was really rough. But the staff around me and my teammates definitely helped me keep my head down and keep working just to get to a position where I can get ready to go.”

Sanders is entering year three with Alabama, looking to build upon his reps last season. He played in two games as a true freshman in 2024 and 15 in 2025 as a redshirt freshman. He's looking to earn a starting spot with the Crimson Tide in 2026. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Sanders is playing at his goal weight. He credited the Crimson Tide's coaching staff with helping him stay in shape after his recovery from injury.

"That’s all thanks to the strength staff and the athletic training staff,” he said. “I don’t think I’d be in the same position I am now without that great group of people. Both of them just made sure they kept me on a great plan, kept me locked in, and really just showed me, ‘Even though you’re hurt, we’re gonna modify this to make sure you come back as you were, and then build upon that.’”

Alabama will have a new offensive line coach in 2026 after the Crimson Tide hired Adrian Klemm from USC, and while Sanders wasn't able to participate in spring practice, he still learned from the Tide's new offensive line coach.

"Coach Klemm is great,” Sanders said. “I learn by doing - a hands-on learner, as some would call it. And not being able to do that was very unfortunate, but listening to him and how he broke things down, I was learning, even though I’m not on the field. I was picking things up, picking up the new lingo, picking up new technique. Being able to step through it in the locker room or on the field when I can’t do anything. So, I mean, it was great being able to see how he coached and see how he moved.”

Sanders missed spring practice, but is still in line to start for Alabama this fall. He received the second-most snaps of Alabama's returning offensive linemen last season, only behind Michael Carroll, who started six games for the Crimson Tide last season. Sanders will still have to earn the starting spot, though, by working this summer and fall.

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_.