Alabama Expected to Hire USC Assistant as Next Offensive Line Coach

Adrian Klemm has a vast amount of experience, including time with Crimson Tide general manager Courtney Morgan.

Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks associate head coach Adrian Klemm against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Alabama is expected to hire USC defensive analyst Adrian Klemm as its next offensive line coach, per 247 Sports' Matt Zenitz.

This move comes three days after head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide moved on from offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic.

Before his time working under Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, Klemm served as the offensive line coach for the New England Patriots in 2023.

Prior to the Patriots, Klemm was the associate head coach/offensive line coach/ run game coordinator for Oregon in 2022. The Ducks finished the 2022 season ranked No. 1 in all of college football in sacks allowed, giving up just 5 in 13 games. The Ducks were ranked sixth in total offense, 10th in scoring offense, 12th in rushing offense and 17th in passing offense.

Oregon ranked in the top 10 in first downs per game (26.8), red-zone touchdowns (46), plays over 10 yards (217) and yards per play (6.94). Klemm coached two 2022 All-American selections from the Duck offensive line and three of his offensive linemen went on to play in the NFL.

Klemm coached in the NFL as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ assistant offensive line coach from 2019-20 and was promoted to offensive line coach prior to the 2021 season. The Steelers went 29-19-1 in his three seasons in Pittsburgh.

Klemm also served five years as the associate head coach/offensive line coach/run game coordinator for UCLA from 2012-17. During his time in Westwood, the Bruins broke multiple offensive records, including single-season passing yards (3,860 yards), rushing yards (2,860 yards), scoring (482 points) and total offense (6,531 yards). Courtney Morgan, Alabama's general manager, was the director of player development for the Bruins from 2013-14.

Klemm will mentor a revamped offensive line, as four of the five starters from this past season either exhausted their collegiate eligibility. This position group for Alabama in 2026 will be composed of returners Michael Carroll, William Sanders, Casey Poe, Mal Waldrep, Jackson Lloyd, transfers Kaden Strayhorn (Michigan) Ty Haywood (Michigan), Racin Delgatty (Cal Poly), Nick Brooks (Texas), Ethan Fields (Ole Miss) and Jayvin James (Mississippi State), plus incoming freshman Bryson Cooley, Chris Booker, Bear Fretwell, Jared Doughty and JUCO transfer Tyrell Miller. Carroll is the only returning Alabama offensive lineman with any starting experience, as he held that status for six of the 14 games that he played.

Carroll was a consensus five-star recruit, viewed as the top interior offensive lineman in the nation out of IMG Academy. Though recruited to play on the interior, his athleticism allowed him to transition quickly to tackle, a move that proved necessary as the season unfolded.

"We have so many older guys, so it's just helped me develop in so many ways, from my maturity level to my skills on the football field," Carroll told BamaCentral before the Rose Bowl. "The physical aspect was challenging, but also the mental aspect of learning the entire college playbook was definitely difficult, but Alabama did such a good job preparing me.

"I'm ready to step into that leadership role," Carroll said. "I want to be a vocal leader heading into next year."

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