The last time the Alabama Crimson Tide left the football field was after a heartbreaking loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the CFP Rose Bowl semifinal. Since then, a lot has changed as Nick Saban’s shocking retirement sent a massive ripple effect though all of college football.
Saban’s retirement led many schools to extend their coaches, like Florida State, Oregon and Texas out of fear Alabama was going to come snipe their coach. But the Crimson Tide got their man all along as Kalen DeBoer accepted the job shortly after guiding the Washington Huskies to a national title appearance.
No matter who was to be named as Saban’s successor, there was always going to be major turnover on the roster. However, DeBoer did a great job minimizing the damage while also building the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the 2025 cycle. It’s incredibly difficult to replace players like Isaiah Bond, Caleb Downs and Julian Sayin but DeBoer was able to bring over a few of his players from Washington like Germie Bernard, Austin Mack and Parker Brailsford for immediate help.
After all of the dust has settled, the Crimson Tide still boasts one of the most talented rosters in the sport with Sporting News naming four Alabama players to their preseason All-American team. C Parker Brailsford and K Graham Nicholson were both named to the first-team while Tyler Booker and Malachi Moore were recognized on the second-team.
In just 16 days time, we will get our first opportunity to see the DeBoer era live and in action when they kick off the season at home against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
⭐️ Preseason AA ✖️ @sportingnews ⭐️@gnicholson99 x @parkerbrail x @iamtylerbooker x @malachi_moore13 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/4xkvtvHrs7
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 15, 2024
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