JC Latham explains weight gain ahead of junior year at Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – JC Latham recently shared a photo of himself standing on a scale with the numbers 360.8 on the screen. That is nearly a 26-pound increase for the offensive tackle, according to Alabama’s 2023 media guide, which lists Latham at 6-foot-6, 335 pounds.

But the Crimson Tide junior carries it well and shared Monday how the new weight feels.

“I feel great, honestly,” said Latham prior to Alabama’s 10th practice. “I know I’ve got a great strength and conditioning group down there, so I put on some muscle. I feel great.”

Latham is entering his third year in the Crimson Tide program and is one of the team’s most experienced offensive linemen. He has also steadily added weight to his frame over the course of his collegiate career. Last season, Latham was listed at 326 pounds prior to the start of the 2022 campaign and gained nine pounds when UA updated its roster in the spring.

On Monday, he explained how he has added muscle from a nutritional standpoint.

“Definitely creatine, glutamine, making sure you take what you’re supposed to take,” Latham said. “But then also understanding when you show up in the weight room, show up to give your best effort. Then when you’re done, eat, rehydrate, do whatever you have to do.”

Latham started every game at right tackle this past season as a true sophomore, and he tallied 29 knockdown blocks and only allowed two sacks and 11 pressures. He has remained on the right side of the offensive line this entire offseason, the preseason All-SEC pick looks to form one of the best duos in the SEC with sophomore Tyler Booker lining up to his left.

The 2023 season could be a money-making year for Latham, who can choose to turn pro after the last game on Alabama’s schedule. He was a popular pick on way-too-early mock drafts to go in the first round of April’s NFL draft. With that in mind, Latham chose to increase his weight prior to the start of his junior year, not only to help in the fall but also the next level.

“Definitely just me personally,” Latham said. “Obviously, I’m a team-oriented player. I want the team to succeed in all aspects. But I understand that my career won’t end at Alabama. It will continue down the line once I leave here that I want to be able to add in addition to and guys like Will Anderson that I’ll see again. So I definitely want to come with something else to my game that I’ve added, whether it’s getting bigger, stronger, faster, whatever the case may be.”

How Latham handles the heat as a big guy

Temperatures in the Druid City have been in the high 90s since Alabama opened fall camp two weeks ago, creating some adversity for the Tide players. As one of the largest players on UA’s roster, Latham was asked how he combats the heat as Alabama preps for the season.

“It’s really whatever you make of it, but it’s definitely something,” Latham said. “I make sure I eat twice before I go out there, so breakfast and lunch. Tonight’s a night practice, so I’ll have three meals, try to get a snack in, definitely gotta hydrate. Different fluids going through your body, but it needs to be the right stuff. Just making sure that when you’re out there, you’re prepared.

“You can’t just go out there on one sandwich for the whole day, because you’ll die. Just making sure you’re eating what you’re supposed to eat and fueling up your body.”

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