How Tyler Booker tweaked his leadership approach midway through season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Last week before the Missouri game, Alabama’s coaches praised Tyler Booker for the fire he brought to the week of preparation. That continued throughout the week and bled into the Crimson Tide’s win over the Tigers to advance to 6-2 (3-2 SEC).

With Alabama getting this Saturday off as part of its second and final bye week, Booker will look to keep that same intensity despite the Tide not getting ready to play a game this weekend. 

And not just this week but for the remainder of Alabama’s regular-season schedule.

“Understanding what I learned about myself and this team,” Booker said.

“And what I learned is that I kind of took for granted how many young guys we have on the team because the past two years I’ve been here, there were a lot of older guys. Like I was with guys like Javion Cohen, Emil Ekiyor, Darrian Dalcourt. Last year, I was with JC (Latham), Seth (McLaughlin), Dalcourt, (Terrence Ferguson), a lot of older guys in the room. 

“So now that I am the older guy, I have to teach the younger guys how to become the older guys. So understanding that I just have to push it a little bit with some of the young guys. Whatever it takes.”

Booker, a junior, is one of the Crimson Tide’s four team captains, and he doesn’t take that title lightly, as evidenced last week. As Alabama gears up for a pivotal final stretch of the season, he shared the message to his younger teammates of playing to the program standard.

“Just how many people are counting on you,” Booker said. “Like how many people really love Alabama football. This is a community like no other. That’s why I stayed. That’s why it was a no-brainer for me to stay because I love it. I love Alabama so much because of how many people love us.

“And like the community, the atmosphere that you get just like walking around, going to store. Everybody’s rooting for you. So just think about them when you come because you’re playing for more than yourself. You’re playing for your family, of course, and then you’re playing for them.”

Alabama held its second practice of the week on Thursday morning, and there are nine days before a critical matchup against LSU on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Baton Rouge. Before the Crimson Tide turns its full attention to the Tigers, Booker knows UA must focus on itself.

He explained how he will approach the open week from a leadership standpoint.

“Just reminding everybody that we only get so many opportunities to get better,” Booker said. “We only get so many hours in the day to get better, and it would be a shame to waste them while we have so much time to focus on getting better. Because a majority of our week, we’re focusing on scheme, how we’re gonna run the ball against this look, what checks we’re gonna make in the pass game if we have this. 

“There’s not a whole bunch of time to work on technique, so now that we’re in the bye week and we have so much time to work on technique, that’s what we need to be focusing on. So don’t just go through the motions in this bye week. Really take advantage of the time. And I feel like as an offensive line and as a team, we’ve definitely taken advantage of that time.”

Booker is one of Alabama’s most vocal leaders, but this could be his final season should he enter the 2025 NFL Draft. While it will be difficult to replace his on-field production, the way he leads will also be missed. But Booker sees some younger players stepping up.

The one he didn’t hesitate to mention is someone he practices and plays beside every day.

“Kadyn (Proctor), for sure,” Booker said. “It’s hard to see him as a young guy because he’s been starting since last year. But I see him, like he lets me lead, but I see those leadership traits and qualities, and I always encourage him to lead because one day he will be the guy, and I just want him to be prepared for that. 

“He definitely has those qualities and traits and he knows what’s right, he knows what’s wrong. I’m just very excited to see him continue to step into that role.”

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!