Kalen DeBoer faced significant challenges as he took over as head coach at Alabama. He was well aware of the high standards set by Nick Saban during his tenure at Tuscaloosa and understood how unrealistic it was to expect to fill those shoes within such a short time frame. Nevertheless, DeBoer did not back down. He traveled from Washington to Alabama and signed on for what would be a tumultuous journey. The year unfolded much like he had feared. His rookie mistakes ultimately cost the team a playoff bid early in the season. A tie with SMU ended their chances in the debate over the quality of wins. With a final record of 9-4, including three significant losses in conference play, DeBoor faced intense scrutiny from fans who vigorously questioned his abilities as a coach.

Heading into the off-season, DeBoer faced a turning point. After a disappointing season filled with mistakes and setbacks, he had two options: to lose hope and give up, or to respond with determination. DeBoer chose the latter. He made a concerted effort to build a strong relationship with the players, which made the transition challenging at first. The sudden departure of Saban left the team in shock, making it understandable that they didn’t immediately connect with their new coach. However, DeBoer patiently gave them time to adjust, gradually earning their trust. The result? Look at their spring portal statistics: Alabama successfully navigated the portal without losing a single scholarship player from their roster.

The off-season looks glittery, no doubt. But the hiccups along the way are the real gangster. All the poor plays, bad decisions, and last-minute snubs taught DeBoer some crucial lessons about surviving at Tuscaloosa. “Those experiences are what’s shaping who we are and what we’re going to remember. We’ve used a lot of those experiences in the offseason prior to spring to get better, whether it’s execution on the football field or mindset or what we’re going to do,“ DeBoer said in a sit-down interview with Josh Pate.

“If we’re in these spots, you know, first quarter, second quarter, end of game situations. Just talking a lot about what our response is going to be in those moments, but how we’re going to try to do everything we can to avoid being in those spots,” Kalen DeBoer added. Enter the unforgettable loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, the one that marked their first season with a three-game losing streak since 2010. Remember how Jalen Milroe added to the woes with some horrible play? Scary, right?

DeBoer, however, didn’t bother much since it’s the past. All he sees is a constant improvement and a better execution in the future. “Going back to that time frame, it was something because we were, I really feel like building some momentum at that time of the year and had played some good football the few weeks before and had a good balance of offense and defense,” Kalen DeBoer said, “But certainly, you’re going to respect every opponent you play, and especially in the SEC, and at that time going on the road, you know, is something that we have to continue to do better.”

However, it’s not just about learning and improving. It’s more about retaining and recruiting the talent to back up your vision. “We’re going to learn from everything that’s happened. But we’re also going to continue to make sure we’ve got the right people around us, and as we entered that portal after the bowl game, you could see us really attract the right guys,” DeBoer flaunted his recruitment prowess during the winter.

Despite all the silver linings, Kalen DeBoer will be in a pressure cooker situation in his second year at Tuscaloosa. No debate on that. But the good news is he gets some key offensive weapons back on the helm. Who will be the key contributors this year? The quarterback position looked brighter than before, with Ty Simpson getting ready to take the reins. Ty Simpson appears incredibly well-prepared to lead the Bama’s offense. Thanks to the experience and the numbers under the belt. But the head coach has his eyes on two different position groups.

Kalen DeBoer has two groups as the bedrock of his big 2025 endeavor 

When asked which group he is most eager to see progress, the second-year head coach replied, “Yeah, so the receivers and defensive backs.” He expressed confidence in JaMarcus Shepard and the receiving group, noting the recent turnover and the addition of new talent. He mentioned players like Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, emphasizing how enjoyable it is to see Shep’s personality emerge in that group as they aggressively tackle their work. DeBoer praised the coach and his players, stating, “I’m excited about the development of that position.”

Williams turned out to be an elite receiver in the SEC at the age of 17. Despite receiving criticism for Milroe’s targeted passes, Williams maintained his impressive performance throughout the season. He had 48 catches for 865 yards and eight scores. Williams scored a touchdown in each of his first five games. Sure, he had some massive downs against the solid A-lister defenses, but this year, with an improved offense, Williams is meant to emerge as the star that he is.

DeBoer has some words on the other priority group as well. “The defensive backs, a year ago, where we were at and we had names, and we brought guys in. But they were completely new to this program and, in many cases, completely new to college football coming out of high school,” the coach phenom marked the experience factor in his DB room that’s going to make a difference in his second year.