“It’s Gonna be a Big Year,” Emil Ekiyor, Jr. Previews Alabama’s Offensive Line

Senior Crimson Tide guard Emil Ekiyor, Jr. spoke with the media on Friday before day two of Alabama's fall camp and touched on a few various topics about this upcoming season.

The former four-star prospect was asked several questions about this year's offensive line unit and spoke highly of the group.

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Ekiyor, when asked about the impact he and his fellow linemen can have this season, said, "I feel like, as the offensive line, we set the tone for the entire team (...) Developing that toughness comes from days like today we're about to have at camp, it's hot outside. (...) While its hard, its about developing those habits now."

The senior was also asked about new offensive line coach Eric Wolford and was very complementary of the new coach's style and leadership.

Ekiyor said, speaking on Wolford, "Coach Wolf has been great. He's brought great energy, great philosophy. He really knows what he's doing protection wise, creating angles for us in the run game. I think its gonna be big year for us as an offensive line."

When asked about the differences between Wolford and last year's coach Doug Marrone, the former four-star said, simply, "They're two completely different guys. coach Marrone came from the league, he was a head coach. Coach Wolf was an offensive line coach in college at Kentucky, so that will just tell you right there. (...) I won't go into too much detail, but its been a positive change with coach Wolford."

Ekiyor joined the Tide in 2018 and enters this year as one of the most experienced members of an offensive line unit that struggled in 2021. With a new coach and a few new faces on the front five, how will Bryce Young's protection fare this season?