Kalen DeBoer describes his early impressions of Alabama program from afar

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Kalen DeBoer is still getting his first taste of Alabama football after being hired in January. He is replacing Nick Saban and hoping to keep the standard at the highest level in Tuscaloosa. Competing at the highest level has been what’s expected for over 15 years now, something DeBoer learned from afar.

Throughout his various stops in college football, DeBoer admitted Alabama was a program he kept an eye on. He wanted to see what the Crimson Tide was doing to see if it’s anything he could apply to his program. Saban’s leadership has been a big talking point for DeBoer since his hiring and was certainly the gold standard in college football.

“I’ve always had the ultimate respect for Alabama football and a lot of that has been tied to Coach Saban over the years,” DeBoer said. “Constantly looking to Alabama as the standard, always keeping an eye whether it’s the schemes, the concepts on the field. But probably just how everything has been carried out through Coach Saban’s leadership from within the program.”

Sometimes, football is a copycat game. Coaches from across the country grab different elements from other places and apply them to themselves. Especially in the play-calling world. If you see a play run in one play, just a week later other teams have dialed it up.

Whether DeBoer was at Indiana, Fresno State, Washington, or maybe even Sioux Falls — there was always something to take from Alabama. Now, some of the concepts he has taken from the Saban era will be applied to the program to kick off the post-Saban era.

“There are certainly a lot of things I have stolen from programs across the country,” DeBoer said. “I think that’s just the nature of our job. You try to take the pieces that fit who you are and what you do. I’ve always had my eye on Alabama from that idea and concept. Just always looking to improve our place, wherever I’ve been. Alabama has always been a major part of that.”

Alabama has just begun winter workouts, prepping for the first spring practice of DeBoer’s time. There are still some roster spots available as they continue to work the NCAA transfer portal. Two additions were made just on Monday night.

DeBoer will be hoping the impression he drew from Saban’s program will come out in his tenure. If everything goes to plan, the drop off will be minimal and Alabama maintains its place in the college football pyramid.