Alabama shuffles offensive line after center leaves with injury

Alabama lineman Chris Owens has moved to center against LSU to replace injured starter Darrian Dalcourt, per Charlie Potter.

Dalcourt limped off the field early in the first quarter, and he was grabbing his left ankle. He is likely out for the remainder of the game.

Dalcourt earned the starting job during preseason camp last summer. 

Owens, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound redshirt senior, has plenty of experience and has moved around on the offensive line before for the Crimson Tide. He is a sixth-year player who played right tackle to start 2021 but ended last season at center against Notre Dame and Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.

Sophomore Damieon George moved into Owens’ position at right tackle. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound tackle has played in five games this season in a reserve capacity.  

Owens, Dalcourt and George were all On3 Consensus four-star recruits.

Offensive line already struggling

Alabama trails LSU 7-0 after the first quarter, and the offensive line is clearly out of sync. The Crimson Tide had just 67 yards in the first 15 minutes.

Through one quarter, quarterback Bryce Young was 6-for-12 with 61 yards. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. is averaging 1.5 yards per carry.

They started the second quarter with a false start penalty, and their drive ended with a turnover on downs.

Alabama was a 29-point favorite entering Saturday’s game, but LSU is not playing scared. They ran a fake punt on their first drive, a drive which later resulted in the sole touchdown of the game.

Outside of the 68-yard scoring drive, LSU has been unable to get anything started offensively. They have 70 yards of total offense.

The game had an over/under of 67, but it does not seem like the two teams are going to get anywhere near that mark midway through the second quarter.