Once Nick Saban retired, there was a collective belief in college football that Alabama’s recruiting prowess would decline without the advantageous influence he brought to player endorsements. However, opponents quickly realized that under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Football remains a formidable force in the collegiate landscape.
Initially, skeptics doubted DeBoer’s capability to recruit in the South, with some Auburn supporters mockingly dubbing him “Husky Harsin.” Yet, early outcomes have left Auburn and other rival fan bases with little room for amusement as DeBoer’s performance has been impressive.
DeBoer’s first significant challenge came in securing the commitment of five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams, who was strongly considering Auburn, as well as SEC rivals Texas and Texas A&M. DeBoer’s efforts won over Williams, marking a notable recruiting triumph within his initial month in charge.
Alabama Football further asserted its dominance by securing the commitment of defensive tackle Antonio Coleman, who was initially a prized recruit for Auburn’s 2025 class before DeBoer successfully recruited him.
Additionally, Auburn fans had anticipated signing top in-state receiver Derick Smith, with insiders confidently predicting his commitment to Auburn. However, DeBoer’s recruitment efforts saw him land Smith over Auburn, Georgia, and other competitors, further solidifying his impact.
In contrast to Nick Saban’s past reluctance to utilize the transfer portal extensively, DeBoer has already capitalized on this resource, acquiring several players expected to play pivotal roles. Notably, Keon Sabb, a former member of the Michigan team that defeated Alabama in the Rose Bowl, is now set to be a starting safety in Kane Wommack’s defense. Additionally, DeBoer secured Austin Mack, a quarterback likely to succeed Milroe, as well as highly regarded center Parker Brailsford and talented receiver Germie Bernard.
Furthermore, DeBoer has demonstrated an aptitude for identifying skilled coaches and assembling an elite staff. Despite the early losses of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff to the Seattle Seahawks, DeBoer swiftly rebounded, further highlighting his managerial prowess.
On the defensive front, DeBoer successfully enticed head coaches to transition into assistant roles, notably Kane Wommack and Maurice Linguist. However, it’s anticipated that some of DeBoer’s coaching staff may only remain in Tuscaloosa for a single season, with rising stars such as Kane Wommack, Colin Hitchler, and JaMarcus Shephard.
Early reports from Tuscaloosa’s spring practice reflect positively on DeBoer and his coaching team. Feedback highlights the positive energy surrounding the new coaching staff and their hands-on approach during on-field sessions.
Alabama Football appears poised to maintain its tradition of securing top spots in the recruiting class rankings for 2025. Presently, the team boasts five commitments from four-star recruits, with more expected imminently, possibly as early as this week. Following DeBoer’s first weekend hosting recruits this spring, the team received three additional crystal ball predictions for four-star prospects, indicating a promising trajectory in recruitment efforts.
Alabama Football: New Era off to a roaring start
While many expected the first year or two to be rocky in the Kalen DeBoer era, so far it has been smooth sailing. Despite losing recruits after Nick Saban’s retirement, the new staff retained enough of the class to finish with the second-ranked recruiting class.
After the 2025 recruiting class saw a few prospects de-commit, Kalen DeBoer has built the class back up to 13th in the current rankings. We truly won’t know how successful Alabama Football will be until the team takes the field. However, two months in, Kalen DeBoer has been as successful as you could ask for.
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