Happy Monday, everyone. Four practices are now in the books. Ryan Williams was caught doing Ryan Williams things.
Just another casual one-hander from Ryan Williams during Alabama practice. pic.twitter.com/lZ7aqdhrc4
— Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) August 3, 2025
People aren’t ready for this dude with a year of college ball under his belt.
Kalen DeBoer spoke to media yesterday. Lotzeir Brooks and Qua Russaw were both limited in practice, but it sounds like both should be fine.
DeBoer on Lotzeir Brooks’ status…
“It won’t be anything long-term or anything like
ADthat. It’ll just be a little bit of recovery here. I don’t know if it’s day-to-day, but it’s not gonna be something that’s extended.”
DeBoer on what he’s seen from Alabama’s quarterbacks…
“I think the biggest thing, practice one was good, two, the installs become more and different things. A lot of it’s still base stuff for the most part that these guys have built on (in) spring, summer. But there’s a couple just missed opportunities, really between receivers, skill guys, and the quarterbacks. I thought the last two practices, those near-misses have now been completions. So, that’s what you like to see, where the plays are getting made, the plays are getting drawn up, there’s execution on a high level somewhere. They either miss the throw, and sometimes maybe there’s an offensive line breakdown of some type or something just a little closer and causing a little bit of distraction for the quarterback, but the last two days have really been better. That’s what you want to see.”
Mbakwe has been spotted exclusively with the receivers during preseason camp so far. Kalen DeBoer was asked about his progress on Sunday, and was complimentary.
“He’s had a couple - more so right now than the summer - Bak’s made some nice plays here,” DeBoer said. “He’s actually gotten practice kicked off in a good way from an offensive standpoint with some big plays early on. So again, growth happening. It’s fun, it’s great to see.”
“The first scrimmage is always very similar probably to where you left off,” DeBoer said. “You are going to get more involved as the week goes on, but just a lot of base stuff. We did some situational work, work, again, further along, critical moments. We’re working clutch already, two-minute today. Something it would have been another practice or two later. Third down, I feel like we’re a bit more dialed in on third down, fourth down situations even already today.”
DeBoer said the first scrimmage will be “a little bit more basic.”
“Feel the need to get some backed up or some goal line in there already, which, a year ago, we probably didn’t push the issue on the goal line stuff in that first scrimmage as much,” DeBoer said. “I think that could be a possibility to run a few more reps. So a lot of the situational work, those critical moments that we know we got to be better at.”
As usual, you can watch the entire press conference below.
One interesting development from camp was on the offensive line, where Geno VanDeMark was seen running with the ones at right guard.
Brailsford described Dewberry as “a mauler” of a guard, “a big dude” standing at 6-foot-4, 332 pounds.
“He’s going to move people,” Brailsford said. “And I definitely like that out of my guards. … He’s smart though. He’s definitely smart. Definitely knows what he’s doing. More than anything, I’d say he’s a mauler.”
Brailsford called VanDeMark “a smart guy” and “technical,” but described him as “a mauler too.”
“When he gets on people, he don’t stop till the whistle’s blown,” Brailsford said. “I like that.”
It was assumed that the battle was at left guard between Dewberry and Geno, but based on this you’d have to wonder if Dewberry has locked down his spot, leaving Geno to compete with Roberts. We will keep an eye on it.
Also, it’s a small thing, but love hearing Brailsford taking ownership of the line by calling them “my guards.” Every great OL has a field general in the middle.
Bruce Feldman put out his annual freaks list, and Kadyn Proctor ranks just behind Jeremiah Smith.
No. 2 Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, offensive tackle
The biggest, by far, of Alabama’s three O-line Freaks, the 6-7, 366-pound Proctor’s body has 274 pounds of lean muscle mass with 26 percent body fat. His strength numbers are awesome. This summer, he squatted 815 pounds, benched 535 and power cleaned 405.
Honestly, I was even more blown away when I found out he vertical jumped 32 inches and broad jumped 9-3. He’s 366 pounds! That 32-inch vertical is as much or more than five of the wideouts who were at this year’s combine. It’s the same as Colorado’s LaJohntay Wester, and he weighed 203 pounds less.
In his first season at Alabama, Proctor started at left tackle and was selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team by the conference coaches. He had his highest-graded performance of the season against Georgia and its top-ranked defense. Last year against Georgia, Proctor earned a 90 percent grade with five knockdown blocks as the Tide didn’t allow a sack all night, per Pro Football Focus. Against South Carolina’s ferocious D-line, Proctor did not allow a sack, pressure or quarterback hit in 63 snaps and posted five knockdowns.
We very much need him to be the monster he was born to be. Win yourself a ring and then go get drafted in the top 3, Kadyn.
Greg Sankey seems to be winning the war against autobids.
There’s “no rift” between Sankey and Petitti, the SEC commissioner said on his conference’s television network last week, but they have “different views.”
The Big Ten, according to multiple reports, might be willing to compromise in favor of a 5+11 playoff if the SEC and ACC add another conference game and join the Big Ten and Big 12 in playing nine conference games.
That’s a fine wish, but the Big Ten lacks the muscle to force another conference to change its schedule. Sankey would like the SEC add a ninth conference game, but his membership has resisted his preference.
The Big Ten played its playoff hand, but it lacked the cards to win the bet.
“You always want to have a really good set of cards,” Sankey said. “You want to have a good hand to play, right? I think we have the best hand.”
Nate Oats hired an Alabama great to his staff.
“I think he relates really well with the guys in the program,” Oats continued. “He’s got a great mind for basketball, along with his servant’s heart, which is what we’re looking for. It’s a bonus that he was one of the best all-time players to come out of Alabama basketball history. But we’re not hiring former players not willing to work and make the program better, and he’s proven over the last two years he’s willing to do what it takes to be a great coach. So we’re happy to have Erwin in the program.”
Last, the Netflix SEC documentary comes out tomorrow.
SEC Football: Any Given Saturday, a Netflix Sports series offering an exclusive look at key matchups throughout the SEC season, premieres August 5.
— Netflix (@netflix) July 14, 2025
Witness the unparalleled pressure, commitment, and raw emotion it takes to be a D1 football player in college football's leading… pic.twitter.com/qY62OaKqvT
That’s about it for today. Have a great week.
Roll Tide.
More from rollbamaroll.com:
- A legend hangs them up — Tua Tagovailoa enters the 2020 NFL Draft
- Jumbo Package: Decision Day
- MONDAY UPDATE: Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Draft Junior Tracker
- Devonta Smith announces his return to Alabama in 2020
- Tua Tagovailoa and Nick Saban to hold press conference at 11am CT Monday
- Predictions: Will they stay or will they go?
- Watch: NFL analyst breaks down Rashaan Evans’ role in critical goal line stand vs. Patriots
