Alabama opened its season against No. 3 Florida State, and for Matt Womack it was his first career start. If that wasn’t enough pressure, Alabama’s first play of the season was a run to the right, right behind Womack.
“I was pretty excited. It’s my first opportunity to really show what I could do. I went out and just did what I could do,” Womack said.
The play went for 34 of Alabama’s 173 rushing yards on the day.
Womack joined Alabama in 2015, redshirting his first year. The former three-star tackle waited in line behind Robinson in 2016, before having a chance to become the starting left tackle.
Four-star Jedrick Wills signed with Alabama on national signing day back in February. The two competed during the spring and fall camp, with Womack winning the starting role.
“I think Matt has really improved,” head coach Nick Saban said. “He’s played with more power. He’s improved his pass protection. He’s a tough guy that it means a lot to him and he works hard. I think he’s an example of a guy that has really developed an ability to play winning football.”
Chemistry is a huge component of a successful offensive line, and Alabama’s line has grown close through just six games.
“We [the offensive line] definitely have had some pretty good chemistry,” Womack said. “It helps me because the cadence is different in blocks and everything. I’ve been beside Lester [Cotton] since spring so me and him, we’ve really kind of figured each other out, like different blocks and everything.”
Three of the five linemen were starters last year. Lester Cotton also started two games last year. Womack, the only newcomer, worked a lot before the season with Jonah Williams, who was the starting left tackle last year.
“I’ve kind of talked to him about everything, he’s given me pointers and stuff like that, but the whole offensive line, they brought me in together. They kind of just put me under their wing and I did what I could do to try to get there… Me, Jonah, Ross [Pierschbacher] and the guys, every day we’re in Coach [Brent] Key’s office watching film, drawing up plays.”
The protection that the line has come up with has helped Alabama run smoothly on offense. Alabama is currently ranked No. 7 in the country in rushing yards with 1810 total yards and 301.7 yards per game. The Crimson Tide has also allowed just seven sacks on the season.
The offensive line is the first place people look when everything is going wrong, and the last place people look when everything is going right. Running back Damien Harris is the opposite, treating the line to dinner after a big game.
“He’s [Harris] definitely treating us pretty good. He’s going to take us to dinner pretty soon,” Womack said. “Me, him, Bo [Scarbrough] and offensive line went out. I wouldn’t want to see that tab. It was a pretty good dinner. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings and the amount of appetizers and stuff we ordered was kind of disgusting. We ate a lot of wings and had a good time just kind of bonding and fellowship.”
