Kalen DeBoer isn’t just replacing Nick Saban; he’s inheriting a legacy laced with sky-high expectations—one that smothers most coaches before they can ever stand tall. In just his second year in Tuscaloosa, DeBoer is already navigating the impossible: maintaining Alabama’s status as college football’s death star while writing a new chapter in a post-Saban era. The bar isn’t set at good, nor is it set at great. It’s undisputed dominance or bust. While DeBoer’s credentials are no joke, a 9–4 record in Year One has both insiders and fans asking whether Alabama is entering a new phase—one less about steamrolling opponents and more about just keeping pace in a cutthroat SEC.
But not everyone’s ringing the alarm bell. Alphonse “Shank” Taylor, a two-time national champion and former Saban-era OL, has gone on record backing Kalen DeBoer with more than a polite nod. On the Bama Tailgate show, Taylor said, “Last season he had the season I thought he’d have. Coming into a new program, especially a place like the SEC… everybody called me crazy for predicting that record, and we’re going to hold our ‘I told you so’ for later. But that’s not going to affect my take on his standing because I thought he was a really good coach before he came in.” Taylor wasn’t tossing out praise for free. “The proof is in the pudding. In a more competitive conference, he showed that he was still able to be a really good ball coach.”
Then he dropped his power ranking. “I gotta put my boy DeBoer up there top five. We’re going top five. I’ll give him the five spot and let him work his way up from there.” Taylor’s faith isn’t just about respect—it’s rooted in the belief that DeBoer’s pedigree will finally take flight in Year Two. That optimism has its skeptics.
An anonymous SEC coach, speaking to Athlon Sports, offered a less nostalgic, more pragmatic take. “I think you’ll see a competitive program that could end up in Atlanta and make the playoff,” the coach said. “But this is a new era. Bama’s not a surefire lock every season.” That’s not a slight—it’s a dose of realism.
Alabama’s 2024 campaign was its worst since Saban’s inaugural 2007 season, and the metrics back it up. A 9–4 finish with a loss to unranked Vanderbilt was a gut punch. Yes, there were highs—wins over Georgia, Missouri, LSU, and a romping over Auburn—but consistency, Alabama’s old trademark, went missing in action.
Oct 5, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer gestures on the sidelines against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
DeBoer’s past proves he can win. He took Washington to a national title appearance, and before that, he racked up three NAIA championships with Sioux Falls. That kind of success doesn’t happen by accident. The question isn’t whether he can coach—it’s whether he can coach Alabama.
Alabama Crimson Tide is more than just a program; it’s an ecosystem fueled by relentless expectations and historic pressure. The standard isn’t just to make the playoffs—it’s to win it, convincingly. Sneaking in through the back door won’t satisfy a fanbase that’s grown accustomed to walking through the front and owning the place.
Recruiting, often the clearest window into a program’s health, offers some stability. Alabama landed the No. 3 recruiting class for 2025, with a blue-chip ratio second only to Georgia. That’s still elite territory, even if it’s no longer undisputed territory.
But the quarterback room, where legends once flourished, now finds itself in flux. With Jalen Milroe off to the NFL, the battle to replace him lies between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and true freshman Keelon Russell. “The biggest question will be quarterback, obviously,” the same SEC coach noted, “but they have a really solid offensive line, and the roster doesn’t have any obvious holes to fill. They’re going to compete for a playoff spot for sure.” That’s good news—but it’s also a few steps removed from championship swagger. But Alabama’s machine doesn’t slow down to admire potential. It demands results, trophies, and timeless Saturday memories.
Kalen DeBoer’s QB dilemma: Three’s company in Tuscaloosa
Welcome to the latest episode of “Who’s Under Center in T-Town?”—featuring three hungry QBs and one very observant HC. Kalen DeBoer isn’t rushing to name his guy just yet, but make no mistake—he’s got eyes on everything Simpson, Mack, and Russell are bringing to the table.
“I think all three quarterbacks we have do have the ability to extend plays,” DeBoer said on Greg McElroy’s podcast. That’s a good start for any offense, especially one that thrives on explosive, chain-moving plays.
DeBoer gave the breakdown like a coach who’s doing his homework. “You know, what they’re doing as far as moving the chains, using their legs to keep plays alive. Austin Mack, even as big as he is, once he gets moving, he covers a lot of ground. Ty [Simpson] was a great dual-threat. Keelon [Russell] has the same abilities to make people miss and probably is faster than most people think. But I think we’re more similar as a group.”
He even tipped his hat to former Tide QB1 Milroe and his never-seen-before explosiveness, reminding us what the bar looks like. “Jalen [Milroe], as far as explosiveness, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like it with a quarterback that could use his legs or had that luxury in that fashion. You have to make sure you’re utilizing the skill sets of your players. Jalen certainly had a—I referred to it as a superpower—that we had to make sure we had incorporated into our plan,” DeBoer added.
With time on his side, DeBoer’s got a real shot to mold his next signal-caller into a star. Other factors, perhaps Simpson, the one with the edge in Tide’s QB battle, can take notes and improvise his reps while he still can.
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