Alabama’s Starting Center Draws High Praise from DeBoer

Not many fans have had a wider range of emotions through five weeks of the seaso,n quite like Alabama fans. The lows have been mentioned enough, but now, the Crimson Tide is flying high off the back of their defeat of the then-No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs last Saturday. Pair that with a visit from College Gameday when they take on No. 16 Vanderbilt this coming weekend, and you've got a very good blueprint for getting the Tide back on track.

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While what makes all Alabama teams so special is their depth, this year's team, although no different in terms of depth, has seemed to lean on its leaders more than in other years. More specifically, their captains. Guys like Ty Simpson and Deontae Lawson have helped steady the course throughout a stressful opening month through coach Kalen DeBoer's second season.

One of the more underrated aspects that we overlooked when DeBoer took the job, however, was the guys from Washington that he'd bring in the transfer portal. The three headlining names were wide receiver Germie Bernard, center Parker Brailsford, and quarterback Austin Mack. The first two may have been two of the more underappreciated transfers to begin with, but there isn't a college football fan in the country who doesn't know the name Germie Bernard, and Parker Brailsford has not only become a captain of this football team as the anchor of the offensive line, but a rising star in the world of college football big boys.

Coach Kalen DeBoer has certainly taken notice of the Arizona native's junior campaign, saying, "He's a gem in every way, I mean, he's unreal. I think we have the best center in the country," on Wednesday's "Hey Coach Show" hosted by Chris Stewart.

There's no denying Brailsford's ability both as an athlete and as a leader has been crucial to keeping the Crimson Tide on the right track through the first month of action, but their job isn't close to finished, not by Alabama standards anyway.