Alabama football received offensive line assistance through the transfer portal on Saturday. Former Michigan State inside offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark has committed to the Crimson Tide for next season.
Chris Kapilovic, Alabama’s offensive line coach, coached the 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman at Michigan State. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at Tuscaloosa.
Before the spring transfer portal window opened, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer identified an area of need on the offensive line.
“Offensive line, we’re probably one guy short,” DeBoer remarked. “Just from the numbers that you typically would see and also where we want to be.”
The Crimson Tide has already added a tackle commitment to their spring portal, bringing back a familiar figure in Kadyn Proctor. Proctor, UA’s starting left tackle last season, transferred to Iowa but elected to return to Tuscaloosa after a brief spell with the Hawkeyes.
During the spring window, James Brockermeyer committed to TCU, bringing the interior offensive line down one. Brockermeyer competed with Washington transfer Parker Brailsford for the center position.
Brailsford didn’t practice much during spring football owing to an unclear non-injury or punishment concern. DeBoer said on Wednesday that he would be back in uniform this autumn.
“No question,” DeBoer declared before playing the Regions Tradition Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament.
VanDeMark brings considerable experience to a very young position group. He started six games for the Spartans last season and might serve as a valuable depth piece for the Crimson Tide.
The New Jersey native was a three-star talent in the 2021 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. The service ranks him as the 29th best interior offensive lineman in his class.
The spring transfer portal window concluded after May 1, although players who remain in the portal can still sign with new institutions.
