Parker Brailsford hasn’t played up to his typical standard in recent weeks. However, if you ask his Alabama coaches and teammates, it’s impressive that the starting center has been able to play at all.
Brailsford has been dealing with an injury he suffered last month. The setback caused him to sit out Alabama’s win over Eastern Illinois. It also led to lackluster performances against Auburn and Georgia the past two games.
During a Tuesday media session, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb referred to Brailsford as a “warrior,” stating he couldn’t believe he was able to play in recent games. While Grubb didn’t reveal Brailsford’s injury, starting left tackle Kadyn Proctor called it a high-ankle sprain later in the day.
“Warrior Parker, I agree with that,” Proctor said on Tuesday. “High-ankle sprain, whatever he has going on, that’s hard to play through. I’ve had some of the same thing. I remember in the Rose Bowl my freshman year I had similar things.
“You’ve just got to thug it out, honestly, and that’s exactly what he’s been doing. He’s been trying to be on the field and be that leader that he always is.”
After gritting through the pain, the past two games, Brailsford should be in better shape for Alabama’s trip to Oklahoma on Friday.
Following its 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 6, Alabama’s banged-up roster is beginning to heal. That includes Brailsford, whom Grubb and head coach Kalen DeBoer both said is making progress in practice.
“He’s tough, dude,” Grubb said. “So he looks way better. His time off is really, really helped him. He’s been in that training room, relentless with his pursuit of getting better.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Brailsford has earned a 75.8 pass-blocking grade this season, allowing 11 pressures and one sack over 499 pass-blocking snaps. Meanwhile, he’s graded out with a 57.6 mark as a run-blocker. During last month’s game against Oklahoma, Brailsford earned a 63.0 pass-blocking grade and a 56.2 run-blocking grade, according to PFF.
The first of four College Football Playoff availability reports will be released on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT. No. 9 Alabama will face No. 8 Oklahoma at Friday at 7 p.m. in Norman, Oklahoma. The game will be televised on ABC and ESPN.
