In football, the relationship between the center and the quarterback is crucial for an offense to function effectively. A well-timed and accurately placed snap can make or break a play. Last season, this dynamic was highlighted for Alabama football during the Rose Bowl against Michigan, where a low snap by former center Seth McLaughlin led to a critical stop for Jalen Milroe in overtime. This incident marked a notable instance of miscommunication between McLaughlin and Milroe during snaps, though it was not the first.
With McLaughlin having transferred to Ohio State and Kalen DeBoer bringing his offensive line coach from Washington, Alabama appears to have strengthened this position as they prepare for the 2024 season with the addition of Parker Brailsford.
Brailsford, entering his first season as Alabama’s starting center, previously played at Washington, where he was the starting center for most of the 2023 season. Hailing from Mesa, Arizona, he was part of the Huskies’ offensive line that won the prestigious Joe Moore Award, recognizing them as the top offensive line in the country. Brailsford also received All-Pac-12 Second Team honors last season. Recently, he was named as one of three Alabama players selected for an Associated Press preseason All-American team, joining kicker Graham Nicholson as a first-team preseason All-American.
Brailsford moved to Alabama, transferring from Washington along with three other players who followed DeBoer during the offseason. He committed to the Crimson Tide on January 20 after an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa the day before. After redshirting his freshman year in 2022 at Washington, he has three years of eligibility remaining at Alabama.
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall, Brailsford is 20 years old and will celebrate his 21st birthday in October. As a transfer, he was rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the 22nd player nationally in the transfer portal, as well as the second-best inside offensive lineman transfer. As a high school prospect, he was a three-star recruit, ranked 29th among inside offensive linemen in the 2022 class and seventh in Arizona.
Brailsford’s versatility is evident, having started all 15 games for the Huskies last season—13 at center and two at right guard. His performance earned him recognition as the second-most valuable center in the country by Pro Football Focus, and he received a run-blocking grade of 80.7, the second-highest among all Power Five centers last season.