Kalen DeBoer Says Alabama Coaches, Players ‘More Comfortable’ Heading Into 2025 Season

The Crimson Tide aren’t just preparing for another run at the College Football Playoff—they’re building continuity, chemistry, and confidence under head coach Kalen DeBoer. Now entering his second year in Tuscaloosa, DeBoer says the difference from year one to year two is already palpable: the Alabama staff and roster are no longer simply adjusting. They’re locked in.

“We’re in a much better spot in terms of comfort and cohesion,” DeBoer said during a recent media availability. “Last year, everything was new—terminology, staff, expectations. Now, the coaches know the players, and the players know the system. We’re operating at a different speed.”

For a program that has thrived on structure, consistency, and championship-level expectations under former coach Nick Saban, DeBoer’s first year was viewed as transitional. The 2024 campaign had its high points, including a win over Georgia and an SEC West title, but ultimately ended short of a CFP appearance. With a full year of system implementation, staff alignment, and roster reshaping behind him, DeBoer believes Alabama is entering the 2025 season with a renewed edge—and a lot more clarity.

From Surviving to Thriving: The Year-One Adjustment Period

It’s easy to forget just how seismic the shift was when DeBoer arrived in Tuscaloosa after leading Washington to the national championship game. Following Saban’s retirement, Alabama entered unfamiliar territory—transitioning to a new regime for the first time in nearly two decades.

“There were a lot of moving parts,” DeBoer acknowledged. “New coaching staff. New systems on both sides of the ball. A locker room full of guys who committed to play for someone else. It wasn’t going to be perfect overnight.”

Despite those challenges, DeBoer led the Tide to an 11-2 record, a New Year’s Six bowl appearance, and wins over traditional rivals. But the first-year head coach was quick to note how much effort went into simply keeping the machine running in 2024.

“It was about installing the foundation,” he said. “We were introducing a new culture while respecting the old one. That’s a tough balance. But now, the foundation’s in place. We’re not teaching what the expectation is—we’re reinforcing it.”

Offensive Continuity Under OC Ryan Grubb

One of the biggest factors in Alabama’s 2025 comfort level is the retained offensive brain trust. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who followed DeBoer from Washington, is back for another season alongside quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan and a largely intact offensive staff.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe returns for his senior year and has been vocal about how much smoother things are heading into spring ball.

“Last year, I was learning a whole new offense—reading defenses differently, adjusting to Coach Grubb’s system,” Milroe said. “Now I’m operating with confidence. I know what the coaches want. They know how I operate. That connection means everything.”

Grubb’s offense, which thrives on tempo, precision, and layered route concepts, began to click late in the 2024 season. Alabama averaged 35.1 points per game over its final six contests and showcased explosive playmaking from young receivers like Kobe Prentice, Jaren Hamilton, and Ryan Williams—the five-star freshman phenom who enters 2025 with massive expectations.

“Having a full offseason with these guys is huge,” Grubb said. “We’re not just installing—we’re refining. And that’s when you can start to get dangerous offensively.”

Defensive Stability With Proven Talent

On the defensive side, Alabama has reloaded once again. Although veterans like Dallas Turner and Kool-Aid McKinstry are now in the NFL, defensive coordinator William Inge enters his second season more in sync with the roster.

“Last year, we were finding out who could do what,” Inge said. “This year, we already know. That lets us be more aggressive in how we scheme, how we rotate guys, how we apply pressure.”

Returning stars like linebacker Deontae Lawson, safety Caleb Downs, and lineman LT Overton provide the backbone of a defense that expects to be one of the SEC’s best. New additions from the transfer portal and a top-ranked recruiting class give the Tide ample depth at every level.

According to DeBoer, one of the biggest improvements this spring has been the communication between coaches and players.

“There’s a mutual trust now,” he said. “When you’ve coached a guy for over a year, you know how to push him, how to correct him, and how to empower him. That’s where we’re at with a lot of our leaders on defense.”

Culture and Buy-In: “This Feels Like Our Team Now”

It wasn’t just playbooks that had to be learned last season. DeBoer and his staff were charged with building relationships inside a locker room that was still reeling from the departure of the most iconic figure in program history.

“I’ll be honest—there were moments last year where guys were still figuring out if they could trust us,” DeBoer said. “And that’s understandable. Coach Saban was here for 17 years. He recruited a lot of these guys. So, we had to earn that trust through consistency and honesty.”

Now, players say the team feels united under DeBoer’s leadership.

“This feels like our team now,” said senior offensive lineman Tyler Booker. “We’ve got the blueprint. We’ve got the relationships. We’ve got guys who believe in each other and in this coaching staff.”

Freshman and sophomore players, who have only ever known DeBoer’s leadership, have embraced the culture fully.

“There’s no disconnect anymore,” sophomore cornerback Jahlil Hurley said. “Last year, it felt like we were all learning each other. This year, it’s all about execution.”

Recruiting Momentum Builds on Stability

Alabama’s more settled environment is paying dividends on the recruiting trail, too. DeBoer’s staff has already landed several high-profile 2025 and 2026 commitments, including five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, who flipped from USC, and four-star tight end Marshall Pritchett, a former UNC commit.

“We’re not selling potential anymore—we’re selling proof,” DeBoer said. “Recruits can see what we’re building, and they want to be part of it.”

The current players have played a huge role in that momentum, with several high-profile visitors raving about their interactions with Alabama veterans and the cohesion they saw inside the facility.

“You walk into our building now, and there’s a different energy,” DeBoer said. “It’s not just about being Alabama—it’s about being this Alabama.”

Spring Practice Highlights

Through spring practice, one thing is clear: the team has settled into a rhythm much earlier than it did a year ago.

“There’s a crispness to everything,” Inge said. “We’re not wasting reps trying to teach alignment. We’re working on situational football, getting guys ready for game speed.”

Key takeaways from spring practice so far:

• Jalen Milroe looks significantly more comfortable running the offense, making quicker reads and throwing with better timing.
• Ryan Williams has emerged as a top target, dazzling coaches with his route running and explosiveness.
• LT Overton has stepped up as a vocal leader on the defensive line.
• The offensive line is showing improved cohesion, particularly in run-blocking schemes.

“We’re ahead of where we were last year in just about every area,” DeBoer said. “That’s a good feeling.”

Looking Ahead to Fall: CFP or Bust?

With the expanded 12-team playoff format, Alabama is once again expected to be in the thick of the national championship hunt. And while expectations remain high, DeBoer insists the team isn’t looking past the work ahead.

“There’s no entitlement here,” he said. “We know what Alabama means. But this group also knows that nothing is given. We’ve got to earn every yard, every win, every moment.”

Still, with a returning quarterback, a deeper defense, and a coaching staff that finally feels fully integrated, it’s hard not to think this season could be special.

“This is a team that believes in itself,” DeBoer said. “And when you have that belief, that buy-in, that familiarity—everything else becomes possible.”

Final Thoughts: DeBoer’s Blueprint in Action

Kalen DeBoer came to Alabama with big shoes to fill and little time to do it. In year one, he stabilized a program in transition. In year two, he’s empowering it to soar.

The comfort he references isn’t complacency—it’s clarity. A clear system, a unified staff, and a team that has fully embraced the mission.

“This is what we envisioned,” DeBoer said. “Now it’s time to go execute it.”