The Alabama football standard was clear in the Nick Saban era. A year after Saban retired, how does it look under Kalen DeBoer?

Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Alabama football’s head coach didn’t meet expectations. There’s plenty of places where a nine-win season and a bowl appearance would be cause for celebration under a new coach, but Tuscaloosa isn’t one of them, especially after Nick Saban’s tenure.

Ray Perkins, who started with an 8-4 record in 1983, led the Crimson Tide to a 5-6 record in 1984 with losses to Boston College, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU. Alabama entered the season No. 9 in the AP poll, and finished the season unranked.

McElroy ultimately gave DeBoer a B- for his Year 1 performance. He specifically mentioned Alabama’s bowl game loss to Michigan as a reason for the lower grade:

On Jan. 24, 2024, Saraland five-star wide receiver Ryan William s re-committed to Alabama football, initially ending his commitment after Nick Saban's retirement. One year later, Williams, per DeBoer, has developed into one of the leaders of the Crimson Tide wide receiver room before he's reached his 18th birthday.

No one, including HC Kalen DeBoer, was happy with how the 2024 season went for the Alabama Crimson Tide. But many in the fanbase were already about to jump ship following just one season under his guidance.

Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer understands where fans may feel there's a shortcoming on his 2025 Crimson Tide depth chart.

The Alabama Crimson Tide finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record. That's a pretty good season for most SEC programs, but that's not the standard at Alabama (thanks to Nick Saban's brilliance). Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer,

Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer was among the many college coaches who attended the first day of Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium.