Former Alabama Crimson Tide starter takes a subtle shot at Kalen DeBoer with his first comments since joining CFP rival
James Smith wasted no time making sure that everyone knew there’s a difference between Ohio State and Alabama.
The Alabama Crimson Tide went into the transfer portal after a devastating loss to the Indiana Hoosiers with a clear plan in place: rebuilding the trenches from the ground up. But part of their additions, came with some subtractions.
Arguably the most noteworthy departure alongside Isaiah Horton was James Smith on the defensive line. Smith started 12 games during his tenure in Tuscaloosa and he was poised to be a key factor in his senior season. But Ohio State came calling, he answered, and now he’s taking shots at Alabama and more specifically, at Kalen DeBoer.
James Smith throws a subtle shot at Alabama
“When I was there, you know, we were working hard. Here’s the same but it’s the intensity,” Smith said via Eleven Warriors on YouTube. “It’s almost like everything’s so much faster. Everything’s so intentional, everything is already laid out. They brought in a new coach to Alabama. So they were still trying to learn and stuff, but here is already stable.”
“It kind of gave me that feeling from back when I visited as a freshman, and visited with Saban, because here they ain’t gonna lie. [I] came here, they didn’t lie to me, not one time, nothing. Coach Larry Jones told me it’s gonna be hard, and I appreciate honesty.”
What to make of James Smith’s comments about Alabama
Smith would go on to say that Coach DeBoer was doing the best he could and that no one will ever be able to replace Nick Saban. The problem in my opinion, is not Kalen DeBoer vs. Ryan Day or even Alabama vs. Ohio State.
The problem is that Smith parallels the intensity and feeling from OSU to what he had with Coach Saban. Should we assume that Smith is correct, there was a drop off in intensity or direction under DeBoer.
We heard all offseason in 2025 that the season would be better from a discipline and a culture standpoint, and that the results would follow. Well, other than a brain burp in Week 1 against Florida State, that was largely true and for the most part, results did follow, as the 2025 version of the Crimson Tide was a better team and accomplished more than the 2024 version in DeBoer’s debut season.
But it’s never good to hear a former player say his new team plays faster, is more intense, and is more direct in their practices. Perhaps it’s the honeymoon period, but it makes you wonder nonetheless.
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