Alabama center Parker Brailsford and kicker Graham Nicholson were named first-team preseason All-Americans by The Associated Press on Monday, while guard Tyler Booker was selected to the second team.
Both enter their first season at Alabama as incoming transfers, Brailsford from Washington and Nicholson from Miami of Ohio. Brailsford was among several transfers from UW who followed coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, and is expected to be a starter and leader of the offensive line from the center position, given his knowledge of DeBoer’s offense. Brailsford missed much of spring practice for personal reasons but returned to team activities during the summer.
Nicholson’s inclusion on the team is no surprise, given that he won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker last season after connecting on 26 of 27 field goal attempts. Nicholson beat out former UA kicker Will Reichard for the honor. He and veteran punter James Burnip will provide the Crimson Tide with one of the nation’s most effective tandems in the kicking game.
Booker, who enters his junior season, was a first-team All-SEC pick last year by the AP. Booker is also among the team’s leaders and has lost more than 20 pounds (now listed at 325), as more athleticism will be required of linemen in DeBoer’s offensive system. Media voting determines the AP All-America team.
The Crimson Tide opens the season Aug. 31 at home against Western Kentucky.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
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Publish date : 2024-08-19 07:30:00
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