How the O-line grew closer after Alabama football star Tyler Booker’s watch party in Washington | Goodbread

It had only been three weeks since Kalen DeBoer, the new football coach at Alabama, was appointed. Just two weeks prior, transfer center Parker Brailsford had declared he was following DeBoer from Washington to Alabama.

However, Tyler Booker spotted the idea’s perfect timing and saw no reason to squander time. The senior leader of the Crimson Tide offensive line utilized a group text to plan and arrange a viewing party in Washington for all of the offensive linemen. The weekend before the Super Bowl typically a dead week for football, with even the Senior Bowl taking place two weeks earlier. He gave Brailsford the remote control, and he proceeded to play back the film that showed the offensive line assignments for the electrifying offense of the Huskies.

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“I had (about 15) guys over, and we had some food, and we watched some Washington games, and he’d say, ‘OK, this is what this play is called,’ and, ‘This is (what to do) frontside, and backside,” Booker said. “So having him to help us really brought us together, and closer.”

What they observed was a completely different scheme from the one they were accustomed to; it requires greater agility and pulling to the edge in order to get to the linebackers. Increased releases into open areas to guide screens and perimeter plays. At 275 pounds, Brailsford was light on his feet for a lineman and performed well in the scheme. He was over 60 pounds lighter than Alabama’s average OL starter the previous season.

Until the supper was ready, anyway.

In addition to making cheeseburger sliders, meatballs, and a Rotel dip, Booker’s girlfriend Kalani also brought in some Foosackly’s chicken fingers as a backup. Perfect, everything everyone needs to get faster on the field, isn’t it? The Crimson Tide had not yet begun their “fourth quarter” offseason training regimen, so there would be plenty of opportunities in the near future to shed the pounds.

“You know, it was gone in thirty minutes with a home full of offensive lineman. Booker jokingly said, “(Offensive tackle) Wilkin (Formby), he probably finished off a tray himself.”

Beyond the food, though, Booker’s gathering made Brailsford—who finished as the third-team All-Pac 12 center the previous season—recognized as a valuable resource for other offensive lineman who are attempting to learn a new scheme. Booker and Jaeden Roberts, Alabama’s two returning offensive guard starters, will line up beside him, providing an experienced interior to a squad looking for new tackle starters.

Booker characterized him as just another coach on the field after just three repetitions of spring workouts.

After one enormous celebration, he got the job.