We're taking a look at each position group as Alabama prepares to open spring practice next week. The fifth of a nine-part series looks at the offensive line.

Projected depth chart

LT: Jonah Williams

LG: Ross Pierschbacher

C: Bradley Bozeman

RG: Lester Cotton/Dallas Warmack

RT: Alex Leatherwood/Lester Cotton

Departed

Left tackle Cam Robinson left early for the NFL, leaving a hole at the most important spot on the offensive line.

Korren Kirven, a late-season addition at starting right guard, graduated.

Due to arrive in the spring/fall

Elliot Baker

Alex Leatherwood

Kendall Randolph

Jedrick Wills

Outlook

If there's ever a group that sees tinkering in the spring, it's the offensive line. Just look at last season, Pierschbacher moved from guard to center for March and April, started the A-Day game and was with the first team until early in August.

Tackles become guards and guards into tackles every spring in Tuscaloosa. That's partially to experiment with the best combinations. Sometimes it sticks. They're also trying to get players to the versatile point where they could be added to the lineup at an unnatural position in case of injury.

Either way, the left side of the line looks to be solid.

Sophomore Jonah Williams figures to make the move from right tackle to the left side with Cam Robinson auditioning for the pros. Pierschbacher is the most experienced member of the line at this point as the left guard. That spot is safe.

Bradley Bozeman also solidified himself at center after starting the full 2016 season.

So, the right side ... That's where the fun begins and why spring practice is huge. There's a pool of players who could conceivably end up at either position.

Lester Cotton started five games at right guard. Twice, however, his job was taken by someone else. First it was Alphonse Taylor who returned from injury. Then Korren Kirven got the job beginning with Mississippi State through the end of the season. Cotton came to Alabama as a tackle, where he moved after being bumped at right guard as Williams' backup.

Then there's Alex Leatherwood, the true freshman who practiced a few times already during the national championship buildup in January. The No. 1 offensive tackle in the recruiting class has the pedigree to be the next true freshman to start as a bookend lineman.

Also, don't forget about redshirt freshman Scott Lashley who earned high marks in his first season. JUCO transfers have been hit or miss in recent years on the line as Elliot Baker joins the group from City College of San Francisco. He earned high marks among JUCO transfers and he'll be in spring practice, so stay tuned.

Guards Dallas Warmack and Brandon Kennedy have also put in time as backups. Experience isn't insignificant there.

Bottom line: It will be an important spring for the reshuffled right side of the line. And don't be surprised by any combination you see out there on A-Day.