Nick Saban on OL Terrence Ferguson II: 'I Look At Him as a Starter on Our Team'
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2023-24, there are a few positions on the offensive line that are not up for grabs.
JC Latham will obviously be somewhere — whether it be right or left tackle. Tyler Booker will likely play alongside Latham on whichever side it may be. Seth McLaughlin will start on the offensive line — almost certainly at center where he played much of last season.
The other two spots are open and there is a lot of talent in the room. Darrian Dalcourt is a veteran on the offensive front — but has been rather disappointing a lot of times he's been on the field. Elijah Pritchett is an up and coming second-year player. True freshman Kadyn Proctor is a 6-foot-7, 330-pound giant that will one day play outside tackle for the Crimson Tide — but will it be this year?
How about Terrence Ferguson II? As fall camp rolls on, he's beginning to get a lot of attention for a starting spot when Sept. 2 comes around.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban has a lot of confidence in the third-year player from Fort Valley, Ga.
"Terrence Ferguson is playing really, really well," Saban said. "He's gotten bigger and stronger. He's also been very explosive and has an explosive power and body quickness. And he's very confident in what he's doing. We're playing him at center some too which he's done a good job of that. He's showing a lot of maturity, and I look at him as a starter on our team. I think we have six or seven guys who may be starters. So we're seeing what the best combination is as we go through camp."
If Ferguson is a starter in Saban's mind, what do Pritchett and Proctor need to do to get there?
"They’re in competition," Saban said. "I think both guys need to continue to develop and play with a little bit more consistency in terms of the very things that I’ve been talking about in terms of paying attention to detail, doing the little things right, being able to stay focused when they get tired, having the mental toughness to see it through. I really like the attitude and maturity of the offensive line and the leadership that we have at that position. So those guys are gonna be pretty demanding on those guys to buy in and do things at the level they need to be able to play the way they’re capable of."
"Nobody’s disappointed in their development, but if they’re gonna be starters, there’s an expectation that goes with that, too, and I think that’s something that we need to continue to work to get them to be able to do on a consistent basis."
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