Playing offensive line is like air conditioning. People only notice it when it doesn’t work.

That comparison was made in the latest episode of “The Tides that Bind” on Fox Nation on Wednesday, a documentary about the 2024 Alabama football season. Much of the second episode was spend on the offensive line and specifically, Wilkin Formby and Kadyn Proctor, two good friends who will be in their third seasons with the Crimson Tide this fall.

Formby started at right tackle in the South Florida game and struggled. Alabama went on to win, thanks to a high-scoring fourth quarter. But there was plenty of backlash surrounding Formby’s play. He detailed what his experience after that performance was like in the documentary.

“I went on social media,” Formby said. “The first thing that popped up was like ‘Kill Wilkin Formby.’ It’s a lot of hate that they’re spreading. It didn’t really get to me that bad. I just hate that my family had to see all that stuff. My little sister is going to school and people are asking her about it. That was the part that made me frustrated.”

Proctor, who started most of the season at left tackle once healthy, couldn’t help but feel for his friend in that moment.

“I don’t know how y’all can say this stuff,” Proctor said. “They don’t understand that we’ve got to go … we might laugh about it right now, but when we’re by ourselves, that really takes a toll. I’ve had countless times where I cried for sure. I bet he probably has too when nobody’s around. They don’t understand how much that affects you. You’re in front of millions of people, not trying to mess up.”

Formby is a Tuscaloosa native, having played for Northridge high school before joining Alabama. His parents were also included in the second episode of the documentary, talking about the aftermath of the South Florida game.

“When they come at your kids like this, it’s difficult for us,” said his dad, Shannon Formby. “It’s frustrating because these guys are working every single day as hard as they can. It’s shocking.”

Melanie Formby, Wilkin’s mom, expressed pride in “the way Wilkin has responded to this.”

“Obviously he was shocked and hurt,” she said, “but you can also choose not to read those things and get back to work and keep the main thing the main thing.”

Formby will be competing for a starting spot on the offensive line this fall, the second season under coach Kalen DeBoer.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.