OL Tyler Booker Ready to Bring Back Old-School Alabama Football

The Crimson Tide's projected starting right guard wants to take the Crimson Tide back to what he remembers the program as growing up.

Austin Hannon | Apr 18, 2023

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Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Things are certainly looking up for the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line.

Offensive line coach Eric Wolford is beginning his second season with the Crimson Tide. After an inconsistent first year with the unit, it seems like things are quickly turning around.

All offseason, the group has talked about wanting to be dominant and imposing. Head coach Nick Saban even said on Saturday that the offensive line has been a big part of the offense's new leadership following the exit of Bryce Young.

Now, Tyler Booker — a presumed starter on the front in 2023-24 — said that he wants to bring back the Alabama Football of the past in a big way.

"We want to be dominant," Booker said. "We want to be the ones on 3rd and 3 that are like 'Oh, that's easy.' […] We want [the] mentality [of other teams to be] 'Man we've got to play Alabama this week.' The way that we're playing — that's how Alabama played when I was growing up. This is what I see Alabama Football as. To be able to bring that back to what it was — that means the most to me. That mentality is throughout the room and everybody is trying to finish blocks, push the pile — things of that nature. That's just our mindset."

Booker said that a lot of it starts with Wolford.

"There's a method to the madness," Booker said. "Coach Wolf is pretty out there but I love [him]. Coach Wolf is what I call a good kind of crazy. He knows how to motivate you but he also knows when to back off. He treats everybody fair but he knows how to reach certain guys. […] Coach Wolford understands who we are as football players but more importantly as people."

His counterpart on the line, Seth McLaughlin, was wearing a "Run the Damn Ball" hat on "Hey Coach" earlier in the week. Booker said that's something McLaughlin wears quite often.

"Every day," Booker said. "It's kind of funny the media picks up on it now because since I met Seth — he was wearing it. When I came on my visit, Seth was wearing that hat. I love that hat because I have the same kind of mindset, same kind of mentality. I just can't fit it because I've got all of this hair."

Booker agreed with Saban in the fact that the offensive line is stepping up in a big way from a leadership standpoint.

"There was kind of a dropoff of leadership from when [Young] left," Booker said. "As an offensive line — as a group that has to come together and play together like no other position on the team — I felt like it was most important for us to step into that role and lead and show people how to come together and compete with and against one another."

There is a lot of talent in the room this season — and a lot of competition as a result. When Sept. 2 rolls around, it's safe to say the five guys on the offensive front could be a problem for the opposition.

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