Saturday was the latest opportunity for young offensive linemen to make a play for a major role as Nick Saban experiments and mixes and matches players this spring.

Alabama is down three of its offensive line starters from last season -- Cam Robinson (injury), Ryan Kelly (graduation) and Dominick Jackson (graduation) -- and is using this spring as almost an open casting call to see who will step up and take on a starter role. At least a few offensive linemen answered the challenge and played well in the first scrimmage of the spring practice slate.

The first name out of Saban's mouth after the scrimmage was Lester Cotton who has earned rave reviews from fellow players all spring.

"Lester Cotton has done a really good job," Saban said. "He's played at left tackle, right tackle and we've played him at guard some."

With Ross Pierschbacher sliding over from left guard to center this spring, it's opened up a perfect spot for Cotton. The rising sophomore offensive lineman is known for his power -- he had 233 pancake blocks his senior high school season -- and seems primed to nab one of the vacant starting jobs.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Cotton worked at left guard while true freshman Jonah Williams started at left tackle in place of Robinson. Saban said Williams, who arrived in Tuscaloosa in January as an early enrollee, did a "really nice job" with the first team on Saturday. Pierschbacher remained at center as that transition looks as if it could be permanent given Saban's praise of the rising redshirt junior.

"Really like Ross at center," the Alabama head coach said. "I think he's done a nice job and made that transition fairly well."

Korren Kirven, who has also gotten reps with the first team, suffered a foot injury recently and missed two practices, according to Saban. However, the senior has played well this spring and is a strong candidate for the vacant right tackle job. Kirven started one game at right tackle last season when Jackson was injured.

Dallas Warmack and Brandon Kennedy both worked at the guard positions and are "getting better." Kennedy, a redshirt freshman, was projected to play center by recruiting services but has worked at guard this spring. Warmack could compete at both left and right guard.

Overall, the first team offensive line's performance against a talented defensive line left Saban feeling good on Saturday.

"I feel better about the number of guys that we have to coach and develop on the offensive line," he said. "We need to see what we need to do to get the best five guys out there."