TUSCALOOSA — Alabama’s run game, one of the program’s most glaring weaknesses in 2025, has shown measurable improvement after a coaching change on the offensive line.
Coaching switch yields early results
The Crimson Tide dismissed offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic following a 2025 season in which Alabama finished near the bottom of the FBS in rushing. USC defensive analyst Adrian Klemm was hired to replace him. Through the first three games of the current season, Alabama is averaging 209.7 rushing yards per game, a rise that places the Tide at 23rd in the FBS.
Only guard Michael Carroll returned as a starter from last year’s line, and players say Klemm’s approach has altered practice habits, communication and in-game aggressiveness across the front.
"He cares so much about us," said offensive guard Will Sanders, one of the few players who worked with both Kapilovic and Klemm.
Sanders credited multiple elements for the improvement: attacking plays across the line of scrimmage, greater aggressiveness as a unit and clearer communication. He also pointed to staff trust and patience as contributing factors.
Numbers show the change
For context, Alabama averaged just 92.6 yards per game in 2025, ranking 129th of 136 teams in the FBS. The turnaround in per-game rushing yardage is stark and provides a useful snapshot of where the line stands early in the season.
| Season | Rushing Yards per Game | FBS Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 92.6 | 129 of 136 |
| Current season (3 games) | 209.7 | 23 |
Players described Klemm as calm and focused on teaching, which players said reduces frustration in practice and helps them execute more consistently in games.
- Leadership change: Chris Kapilovic out, Adrian Klemm in as offensive line coach.
- Returners: Michael Carroll is the only returning starter along the line.
- Team view: Improved communication and aggressiveness credited for better rushing performance.
Alabama’s offensive improvement under Klemm is evident in early-season statistics, but players and coaches have framed the progress as part of a longer process rather than a finished product. Officials and team members emphasize continued development in practice and game planning as keys to sustaining the improvement.
As opponents scout the Tide for the stretch of the season, the offensive line’s performance will be a focal point for both Alabama supporters and rivals. For now, the numbers and player testimony point to a clearer identity up front than the program showed a year ago.
