Alabama adds former Michigan State OL Geno VanDeMark: How he impacts Tide’s O-line

Alabama added its second transfer portal commit in two days when Michigan State offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide via his social media Saturday.

This comes one day after Penn State defensive back King Mack announced his commitment. VanDeMark reunites with Alabama offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic who recruited and coached him at Michigan State from 2021 to 2023.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound redshirt junior has 18 appearances and eight starts over the last two seasons including six starts last season.

VanDeMark will play interior offensive line at Alabama and bolster an offensive line unit that needed to improve its depth at the end of spring practice. VanDeMark is the second offensive line commit during the spring transfer portal window joining Kadyn Proctor who rejoined the team from Iowa.

Alabama added six players during the spring transfer window: VanDeMark, Proctor, Kameron Howard (Charlotte), DaShawn Jones (Wake Forest), Mack (Penn State) and Graham Nicholson (Miami Ohio).

VanDeMark’s addition is significant as Alabama brings in a starting caliber offensive lineman from the Power 5 to essentially serve as a swing guard behind Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts who can fill in during an injury, and with two years left of eligibility, projects as a starter in 2025.

It’s also worth noting that Kapilovic’s philosophy requires several offensive linemen to have snapping experience. Due to the attrition at the center position, VanDeMark could be used as an emergency option at that position as well. At the same time, the coaching staff continues to develop younger options for that position.

A versatile veteran who can fill multiple depth gaps and step into a starting role in 2025 is exactly the type of prospect that Alabama’s coaching staff hoped for and secured based on Kapilovic’s relationship.

With VanDeMark committed, Alabama’s offensive line looks much more formidable than it did a few months ago. Coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed that center Parker Brailsford will be back with the team in June, along with Booker, Roberts, Proctor and Elijah Pritchett. Alabama’s starting offensive line appears set.

Now, the second unit has an experienced interior option in VanDeMark. The exterior has options like Wilkin Formby and Miles McVay who benefitted from nearly an entire spring of first-team reps. DeBoer identified offensive line and defensive back as two key areas of improvement in the transfer portal, and Alabama’s done a solid job of filling in gaps with starters and good depth options.

Alabama has added 14 players via the transfer portal — a class ranked No. 3 nationally according to 247sports. That haul combined with the 2024 high school class brings Alabama’s total additions to 42 commits. As it stands, Alabama’s combined class is the second-ranked class nationally according to 247sports.

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(Photo: Junfu Han / USA Today)