Kalen DeBoer provides update on Washington center transfer Parker Brailsford

A lot of speculation surrounded Alabama center Parker Brailsford after it was thought he was not around the program. Brailsford is one of the few Washington players who followed Kalen DeBoer from Tuscaloosa and was going to compete for a starting spot heading into the 2024 season.

DeBoer provided an update on Brailsford on Saturday following Alabama’s scrimmage. He confirmed something is going on with Brailsford but nothing regarding football. He has been in good standing with the program since transferring over and should be back on the field soon.

“Parker’s just going through some non-football related things,” DeBoer said. “He’s gonna be with us. He’s working out with our strength staff and done a great job there. He’s never done anything wrong. It’s nothing like that. He’s working hard. He’s gonna be ready to go here sooner than later. Just taking it day by day.”

Brailsford was a key member to Washington winning the Joe Moore Award last season, anchoring the middle of the offensive line. He might be a bit undersized at 6-2, 265 pounds but played like one of the best centers in the country.

In the 15 games the Huskies played, Brailsford played in all 15 of them — 13 came at center while two at the beginning of the season were at right guard. He was named a member of the All-Pac-12 second team for his efforts

Not too long after the national championship loss, Brailsford entered the NCAA transfer portal and decided to continue his career at Alabama. Nothing regarding the transfer is holding him up from practicing, something DeBoer wanted to make sure was clear moving forward.

“One other thing with Parker, he’s gonna be here with us,” DeBoer said. “This is not a transfer thing. It’s nothing like that. I just wanna make sure it’s clear. It’s nothing on his end where he’s done anything wrong or anything like that.”

The center position was a touchy subject last year for Alabama. Seth McLaughlin had issues getting the ball back to Jalen Milroe on multiple occasions and infamously in the final play of the Rose Bowl against Michigan. A bad memory for those who were on the 2023 season.

McLaughlin has since transferred out and will be at Ohio State moving forward. Brailsford is likely the favorite to win out for the job but James Brockermeyer is competing to make the decision difficult for DeBoer.