Ad Disclosure
JC Latham talks weight gain and leadership along the Alabama offensive line
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
Alabama is motivated to avoid missing the College Football Playoff in consecutive seasons. To do so, the Crimson Tide will need sturdy protection from their offensive line.
JC Latham, in particular, appears primed to become a pillar. The 6-foot-6 junior bulked up from 335 to 360 pounds during the offseason. As an upperclassman, Latham will now assume a leadership role for an Alabama squad that lost offensive linemen Tyler Steen and Emil Ekiyor Jr. to the NFL.
During a Monday press conference, Latham heaped praise on Alabama’s staff for providing him with a blueprint for his body transformation.
“I feel great honestly. I know I’ve got a great strength and conditioning group down there, so I put on some muscle,” Latham said. “Definitely creatine, glutamine, making sure you’re taking what you’re supposed to take and also just understanding that when you show up in the weight room to give your best effort and then after you get done, eat and rehydrate.”
Latham embraces the opportunity to challenge his teammates to fulfill their potential.
“It’s really not a challenge. It’s more of just an expectation. The older guys left obviously, so young guys have to step up into the role and I was that younger guy,” Latham said. “Just understanding that there’s going to be guys who whether they’re 5-stars or not are going to be coming in as a freshman looking for somebody to kind of guide them on what they’re supposed to do. No one really knows all the answers to the test…Showing them different ways and outlets to do it.”
Alabama begins the season with a home contest vs. Middle Tennessee on Sept. 2.
