The loss of Alabama center James Brockermeyer to the transfer portal was unexpected from the outside.
Brockermeyer, a special teams contributor the previous two seasons, was suddenly jogging with the first-team offense this spring under new coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan.
With transfer center Parker Brailsford out for non-football reasons, Brockermeyer appeared to be in line for major playing time this season.
Ultimately, he decided moving on was the right thing to do, eventually landing at TCU.
“Every player’s got their reasons for wanting to kind of test the waters and check things out,” DeBoer said on Wednesday. “And so I appreciate talking more about our guys on our team. But we’ll always will have nothing but respect for him and, you know, the efforts he’s put into our program, just like every other player who’s poured all they have into it.”
With that said, DeBoer expressed confidence in what’s left on the roster without Brockermeyer.
“I think we’ll have some guys within our team that can bridge that gap that is left,” he added, “and I think we’ll be just fine.”
DeBoer was asked directly if he expected Brailsford to rejoin the team when they resume football practices in June.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Absolutely. “No question.”
Last month, DeBoer explained Brailsford’s absence from practice, citing “non-football-related things.”
“It’s not a transfer thing,” he explained. “It’s not like that. I just want to make sure I am clear. There is nothing on his end that he has done wrong or anything like that.”
Brailsford started every game for Washington last season, the first two at guard and the remainder at center.
He did well enough to be awarded a Freshman All-American. He was also named to the All-Pacific-12 Second Team.
