Brailsford Is Second Former Husky to Transfer to Alabama
Alabama football fans likely will complain rather loudly about former University of Washington center Parker Brailsford giving the sainted program his transfer portal commitment.
Too short. Too light. Doesn't fit the 4- or 5-star prototype of the typical Crimson Tide offensive linemen.
Ah, but to dismiss the 6-foot-2, 275-pound rising sophomore from Mesa, Arizona, as a college football player is just downright ignorant.
On Saturday, Brailsford told On3.com he would become the second former Husky to follow Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff to Tuscaloosa, joining redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Mack.
Brailsford surprised opposing defenses this past season by starting all 15 games for the College Football Playoff-bound Huskies.
His first two game-opening assignments came at right guard before he made an easy transition and replaced senior center Matteo Mele, who was lost with a season-ending injury.
"Best center in the country," wrote UW tackle Troy Fautanu, who received the Morris Trophy this past week as the Pac-12's top offensive lineman.
Brailsford proved to be deceptively strong in the trenches, able to lift 100 pounds over his body weight, and he was a diligent student of using leverage moves.
He was so good for the Huskies this past season he was named second-team All-Pac-12, this after not playing in 2022 as a freshman in order to develop his football talents.
UW lineman fully appreciated Brailsford because he took the field as a low-key personality who consistently got the job done.
Similar to Mack, Brailford is a big loss for the Huskies because he's so accomplished and has three seasons of college football eligibility remaining.
Brailsford was recruited by Jimmy Lake at the UW, signed by DeBoer and he's now an SEC player answering to his Husky offensive-line coach Scott Huff, who moved to Alabama after spending seven seasons in Montlake working for three different coaches.
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