Elite 2025 recruit makes strong statement about Alabama football under new head coach Kalen DeBoer
Alabama Crimson Tide football is entering a new era in 2024. Nick Saban's retirement in January led to Alabama hiring Kalen DeBoer, who spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Washington. There's no way to replace Saban, arguably the greatest college football coach of all time. But Alabama is hoping to at […]
Alabama Crimson Tide football is entering a new era in 2024.
Nick Saban's retirement in January led to Alabama hiring Kalen DeBoer, who spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Washington.
There's no way to replace Saban, arguably the greatest college football coach of all time. But Alabama is hoping to at least continue to be an annual championship contender under the leadership of DeBoer.
And 2025 four-star athlete Derrick Smith, who committed to Alabama on Monday, is confident that the Crimson Tide will continue to stay "on top" with DeBoer at the helm.
“Alabama is Alabama, and it has that standard,” said Smith to On3. “They will always go by that standard, no matter what. The program is going to stay on top under coach DeBoer. He knows how to win, he has a good staff and the players are going to play hard for him.”
Time will tell if Smith is correct — the results on the field this fall and over the next couple of seasons will ultimately tell the story. But it's certainly a good sign that elite recruits like Smith believe in DeBoer and the idea that there won't be much of a drop off in Tuscaloosa without Saban leading the charge. That kind of belief is the only way DeBoer can truly find success while following in Saban's shadow.
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