The No. 1-ranked offensive lineman in his class didn't wait his turn — Carroll cracked Alabama's lineup as a true freshman, earned FWAA Freshman All-American honors, then re-signed with the Tide when his name floated in portal chatter. The 2026 plan slides the 6-6, 318-pounder inside to guard, a move built around restoring Alabama's rushing identity, and a staff trusting a second-year player at multiple spots is its own endorsement. However, the honest accounting is one season of freshman line play and no draft eligibility until 2029 — what exists today is a promising start attached to elite pedigree, not a draft-ready body of work. The thing to watch is whether the guard move reads as versatility or as a tackle who couldn't hold the edge. The first-round conversation lives in the ceiling, and it stays there until the next two seasons match year one.