Settling on a starting offensive line is ideal for communication and a certain chemistry that is unlike any other position on the field. But it doesn't look like Alabama football will have that luxury when it hosts Western Kentucky on Aug. 31 to open the 2024 season.

Following the Crimson Tide's second spring scrimmage, UA coach Kalen DeBoer said it's likely that the battle between right tackles Elijah Pritchett and Wilkin Formby for a starting role will spill from fall camp into the season.

"It's going to be a position I think that, until we get to some game-time reps, I don't know if we'll have it completely ironed out, just based on how it's gone so far," DeBoer said. "Both guys have their strengths and things they do really well, and those come out. It's not like I feel like either of them are a liability. It's just a matter of figuring out which one will be our guy. They've both done a lot to earn a lot of reps."

That suggests a rotation is possibly in play against the Hilltoppers, and perhaps beyond.

Alabama's other four offensive line positions appear to be set with left tackle Kadyn Proctor, guards Jaeden Roberts and Tyler Booker, and center Parker Brailsford. A rotation would be nothing new to Pritchett, who split time with Proctor at the left tackle spot last season for about a month before Proctor won the job outright about halfway through the season. The playing time he picked up in that in-season battle with Proctor represents his game experience edge over Formby, a freshman reserve last year.

DeBoer said another week of practice could settle the battle, but he's not counting on it.

"Maybe we'll take that back a week from now if something else continues to evolve or if one guy really steps up, but (the competition continuing into the season) seems to be the direction it's headed right now."

Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.

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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's right tackle battle expected to spill into season