Don’t panic. That’s what I have to say to any of my fellow Alabama fans who are feeling a bit too uneasy about recent developments for Crimson Tide football.
Upon hearing of Nick Saban’s retirement two weeks ago, I will admit I did panic. After all, Saban had been Alabama’s head coach for my entire life — I’ve never known anything other than his record-setting 16 consecutive 10-win seasons and six national championships. Two days later, Alabama named Kalen Deboer its new head coach.
Deboer, fresh off of a 14-1 season as head coach of the Washington Huskies and an appearance in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, has a career record of 104-12. Sixty-seven of those wins and three of the losses came at his five-year stint at Sioux Falls University, his alma mater. Deboer coached the Cougars to three NAIA National Championships as well. Deboer was 12-6 in two years at Fresno State and 25-3 these past two seasons at Washington. Consider this: he has the best winning percentage among active college football coaches. Those win-loss records should calm and soothe any panic.
There are matters of concern; I’ll give you that. Twenty-seven Alabama players have leapt into the transfer portal since the end of the 2023 season and 20 more have graduated. That’s nearly 50 players from 2023 that will not be on the 2024 roster.
Take a deep breath and think about this. Of the 27 players to leap headfirst into the transfer portal, do you know how many have national championship rings? One. Roydell Williams was a fifth-string running back on the 2020 Alabama national championship team. Nobody else to leave the Tide via the portal has won a national championship.
In addition, this senior class has the worst record for ‘Bama seniors since the Class of 2010. The program is enduring the longest stretch the Tide has gone without a national championship (three seasons) in my lifetime.
In a recent interview, Deboer stated the situation with transfers was worse in 2022 when he was hired at Washington following the firing of Jimmy Lake. His first year in charge of the Huskies was an 11-2 success. He also took a team with the 25th composite ranking (a system that grades teams on a variety of talent-related metrics) to the national title game last season. Deboer knows how to win with less talent than his oppositions.
That being said, I will admit there are some good players to leave the Crimson Tide. Caleb Downs is a generational talent in the defensive backfield. Wideout Isaiah Bond is a hero in Tuscaloosa for his play in the Iron Bowl. Offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor has left via the transfer portal as well. Once he settled down in his freshman season, he was very reliable in his spot in the O-Line.
Williams was a reliable running back down the stretch each of the last two seasons —Alabama will miss him. Amari Niblack, a versatile tight end for the Tide, has already left for Austin. True freshman Julian Sayin was rated as high as any quarterback to ever grace the Capstone, including greats such as Tua Tagovailoa and Bryce Young. But he’s gone to Ohio State through the accursed portal just a few weeks after enrolling at the school.
I understand the uneasiness. A coaching change brings a lot of uncertainty. But also consider that Alabama is one of the few schools in the country with an open transfer window right now (which is due to the aforementioned coaching change). Washington, Buffalo, South Alabama and Arizona are the others. Bombshell reports say that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh could be headed for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. If these rumors are indeed fact, many more coaching dominoes could fall, opening several rosters up for the portal. Maybe Alabama can poach a few players to bridge gaps in the roster. And after spring practice, the portal will open to anybody who wants to hop in.
Deboer is known as a master operator of the transfer portal. He is certainly qualified to replenish the Tide’s roster. Deboer has already brought a few transfers from Washington at offensive line, wide receiver, and quarterback. Who knows? Maybe he’ll get back some of the Alabama players he lost at first.
There are still good players left on the team. Star quarterback Jalen Milroe returns for what will likely be his final season. Malachi Moore decided to use his COVID year of eligibility to come back to the Capstone. Two talented and experienced (albeit young) running backs — Jam Miller and Justice Haynes — top the depth chart as well. Deontae Lawson will be one of the better linebackers in the nation next year.
This is still Alabama. This new-look Tide team is still littered with five-stars.
Times are changing for the University of Alabama’s football program. Times are changing for the fans, too, but don’t panic — not yet. Once the season starts in 220 days, the concerns of today may very well be forgotten. We won’t know until then whether the 2024 season will be a disastrous debacle or a smashing success.
Zak McCullar, 15, is a contributing sports writer for The Community Journal. He is expected to write a monthly sports opinion piece as well as other future feature story assignments.
