Tag: Alabama

Former Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb joins Alabama coaching staff

Former Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb joins Alabama coaching staff

Former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has landed on his feet. Fired after his first and only year with the Seahawks (and the NFL overall), Grubb is headed to Tuscaloosa to be the offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Grubb is now reunited with head coach Kalen DeBoer, as the pair were linked in the same roles at the University of Washington.

This news was broken by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Grubb was the offensive coordinator for the Huskies from 2022-2023 where the Dawgs had the best offense in the country. DeBoer and Grubb were a big reason why UW made it to the National Championship in 2023, despite losing in a blowout to Michigan.

When Schultz mentions the two have been together for most of their respective coaching careers, he’s not kidding! DeBoer and Grubb have been together at Sioux Falls, Eastern Michigan and Fresno State before moving to the Emerald City. They were even briefly linked together at Alabama, as Grubb was initially supposed to be on DeBoer’s staff as his OC with the Tide, before Grubb was hired away by the Seahawks.

Grubb wasn’t the only Tide coach on DeBoer’s initial staff to be hired away by Seattle, as Grubb took offensive line coach Scott Huff along with him. Huff is still currently employed by the Seahawks in the same role, but it remains to be seen if he will follow his former offensive coordinator back down to Alabama, and help DeBoer get the band back together.

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Will Steelers make another James Conner mistake with Najee Harris?

The Steelers risk repeating their mistake of letting James Conner walk as Najee Harris faces an uncertain future with the team.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers understand the grass isn’t always greener when it comes to acquiring new running backs, why is the team about to make another James Conner-sized mistake?

Conner spent four years with the Black and Gold—but only three years as a starter—and during this time, he accumulated 3,265 all-purpose yards. The Steelers allowed him to hit free agency in favor of drafting RB Najee Harris out of Alabama with the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Conner then signed with the Arizona Cardinals and proved the Steelers wrong for letting him go—producing 4,922 total yards. He was also slightly more efficient with each rushing attempt in Arizona, averaging 4.4 ypc compared to his 4.3 ypc with Pittsburgh.

Similar to Conner, Harris is seemingly on his way out of Pittsburgh once the 2024 postseason concludes. He will have accumulated 4,312 rushing yards on 1,097 attempts—resulting in 3.9 ypc.

Harris’ rushing inefficiencies can easily be blamed on having an incompetent offensive coordinator for four years—but just like with Conner, the Steelers organization would rather start fresh than look themselves in the mirror.

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Dolphins’ top 2025 draft prospects: Alabama G Tyler Booker

Tyler Booker could be a day one starter in the middle of the Dolphins’ offensive line.

Tyler Booker is one of the top interior offensive line prospects in the 2025 NFL draft after dominating in the past two seasons at left guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He earned First-Team All-American honors from USA Today and CBS Sports in 2024.

Booker’s elite size, athleticism, and statistical output make him a potential first round pick which is uncommon for his position.

In his stellar 2024 campaign, Booker started all 12 games with 11 starts at left guard and one at left tackle. He allowed no sacks and 10 total pressures in 395 pass blocking snaps, according to PFF. He’s shown elite durability as a starting guard, missing just one game due to injury over the last two years.

Position: Guard
Projected round: 1st
Height: 6’5
Weight: 325

Fit for Miami

The Dolphins interior offensive line was a consistent weakness last season. Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg started most of the games at the guard positions, and finished the season with PFF grades of 56.1 and 53.1, respectively.

To make matters even more urgent at the position, Eichenberg, Jones, and Isaiah Wynn are all set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason. Considering the performances of Eichenberg and Jones last season, Chris Grier might want to move in a different direction.

If Jones isn’t brought back, Booker could assume the position he played at Alabama as a full-time starter for the Dolphins. Grier could potentially re-sign Wynn to a cheaper deal to keep at right guard. That would be a quick fix that gives the Dolphins a pair of starting guards.

Bottom line

The Dolphins must address the offensive line in the offseason in order for the offense to be successful. They need to do a better job of protecting Tua Tagovailoa who missed six games in 2024 due to multiple injuries.

The Miami offense also needs to establish a respectable running game similar to the one the team had in 2023. The Dolphins offense went from scoring 27 rushing touchdowns in 2023 to just 12 in 2024.

“This is the time for us to again start investing in some offensive linemen,” Grier said earlier this week.

Selecting Booker with the Dolphins’ first-round pick could give them a day one starter up front.

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Amari Jefferson commits to Tennessee football

Alabama transfer wide receiver Amari Jefferson commits to Tennessee football.

Former Alabama freshman wide receiver Amari Jefferson committed to Tennessee football on Tuesday.

He will have four years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot, 200-pound wide receiver did not record any statistics at Alabama in 2024.

Jefferson committed to Tennessee baseball in June 2021.

“I’m excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and baseball career at the University of Tennessee,” Jefferson announced in 2021.

Jefferson is from Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He earned Tennessee D2-AAA Mr. Football honors after recording 74 receptions, 1,401 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023 at Baylor.

Jefferson committed to the Crimson Tide out of high school over Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee.

READ: Amari Jefferson commits to Tennessee baseball in 2021

Chris Day/ USA TODAY Network

Alabama, Florida State transfer includes Vols in top three schools

Former Alabama and Florida State wide receiver includes Tennessee in top three schools.

Former Alabama and Florida State wide receiver Malik Benson entered the NCAA transfer portal and announced his three top schools, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Benson’s top three schools are Tennessee, Oregon and Kansas State.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver is from Lansing High School in Lansing, Kansas.

Benson started his collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College, becoming the No. 1 JUCO prospect.

He played at Alabama in 2023, recording 13 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown. Benson transferred to Florida State in 2024 and totaled 25 receptions for 311 yards and one touchdown.

Tennessee has one incoming transfer following the 2024 season. Arizona offensive line transfer Wendell Moe Jr. committed to the Vols.

Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama fires former Wisconsin top assistant coach

Alabama fires former Wisconsin top assistant coach

Alabama Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer dismissed safeties coach Colin Hitschler on Friday, as first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

The move is a significant one. Hitschler spent one season with the Crimson Tide. The program finished 9-4 after a bowl loss to Michigan. It was Alabama’s first non-double-digit-win season since 2007, which was Nick Saban’s first year in charge. DeBoer is making significant staff changes after that disappointing campaign.

This news matters to Wisconsin because Hitschler was one of Luke Fickell’s top assistants and leading recruiters before leaving the Badgers for the Crimson Tide after the 2023 season. The veteran assistant coached under Fickell at Cincinnati as a quality control coach (2018), senior defensive assistant (2019), safeties coach (2020-21) and co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach (2022). He followed Fickell to Wisconsin, where he held the same co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach title (2023).

Hitschler was a big loss when he left for the Crimson Tide. He was the leading recruiter for Badgers’ top class of 2024 signees offensive tackle Kevin Heywood, running back Dilin Jones, defensive lineman Ernest Willor Jr. and cornerback Omilio Agard, in addition to coaching a strong safety group.

Wisconsin hired Alex Grinch to replace Hitschler for the 2024 season. Grinch has since left to be the defensive coordinator under Scott Frost at UCF. The Badgers promoted assistant defensive backs coach Jack Cooper to fill its safeties coach vacancy last week.

Despite the position being filled, a reunion with Hitschler shouldn’t be out of the equation. The veteran assistant has spent the majority of his career coaching under Fickell. That connection could lead to a support position with a chance to quickly reclaim a primary on-field coaching role.

Fickell is still working to install his program at Wisconsin and recreate the success he experienced at Cincinnati. Proven assistants and accomplished recruiters such as Hitschler should be key pieces of that puzzle.

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Chargers sign former All-Pro safety to practice squad

The Chargers added a ballhawking safety to their practice squad.

The Chargers signed safety Eddie Jackson to the practice squad on Monday.

In correspondence, Los Angeles released running back John Kelly from the practice squad.

The acquisition of Jackson came in wake of safety Marcus Maye being placed on injured reserve.

Jackson recently played with the Ravens before being released a month ago. In nine games with Baltimore, Jackson recorded 30 tackles with a pass defended.

A fourth-round selection out of Alabama by the Bears in 2017, Jackson started all 100 games he appeared in over seven seasons. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and earned All-Pro honors in 2018.

Throughout his pro career, Jackson has totaled 15 interceptions, 45 passes defended, 10 forced fumbles and 489 tackles. He is tied for third in Bears franchise history with six career defensive touchdowns.

Miles Kitselman discusses 12-team College Football Playoff format

Tennessee senior tight end Miles Kitselman previews the Vols’ matchup at Ohio State in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Tennessee senior tight end Miles Kitselman is playing for a College Football Playoff team in a second consecutive season with two different schools.

The 6-foot-5, 256-pound tight end transferred to Tennessee after playing at Alabama from 2022-23.

Kitselman met with media on Monday to kick off game week as the Vols prepare to play at Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

He discussed the College Football Playoff having a 12-team format for the first time.

“I think it’s great,” he said of the new format. “With a four-team playoff, you saw a ton of teams that are very talented and don’t get an opportunity to be in the playoffs. You know a 12-team playoff, I think is great for college football. I’m just blessed that we have the opportunity to do it. Doesn’t really feel any different. It’s just another week you have to get ready to play a great game.”

Kitselman appeared in 12 games for the Vols during the 2024 regular season. He recorded 21 receptions for 296 yards and four touchdowns.

Danny White and Miles Kitselman. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Seahawks address IOL in ESPN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Seahawks address IOL in ESPN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The interior of the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line has undoubtedly been their weakness this season. Poor play, injuries, and unexpected retirements have led to constant lineup shakeups. Veteran center Connor Williams surprisingly retired in the middle of the season and was replaced by sophomore blocker Olu Oluwatimi. Right guard Anthony Bradford has struggled mightily and is currently on IR. He’s being replaced by sixth-round rookie Sataoa Laumea, who beat-out third-round rookie Christian Haynes for an opportunity.

NFL draft analyst Field Yates recently completed his latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft for ESPN. Yates has the Seahawks addressing their interior offensive line by selecting University of Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the No. 23 overall pick.

“The Seahawks have had to shuffle the interior of the offensive line this season, and I expect them to address guard and center in the offseason,” Yates wrote. (There isn’t a surefire first-round center.) “Booker is a tone-setter with excellent size and power. He holds up well in pass protection, surrendering two pressures and zero sacks all season. Those pass-blocking traits would help Seattle, which has given up 40 sacks (ninth most) and has Laken Tomlinson potentially hitting free agency.”

Yates is spot on with his analysis. Veteran left guard Laken Tomlinson is slated to reach unrestricted free agency and hasn’t played particularly well in Seattle this season. Pro Football Focus currently has assigned him an overall grade of 63.9. General manager John Schneider still has issues to sort through at center and right guard. Are Oluwatami and Laumea/Haynes long-term answers?

Adding Booker to the mix would improve Seattle’s biggest weakness on offense.

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Wisconsin kept Alabama out of the College Football Playoff

Wisconsin kept Alabama out of the College Football Playoff

The Wisconsin Badgers are to thank for the Alabama Crimson Tide missing the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Imagine reading that sentence back in August before the season began. The likely reason for that reality, if projecting forward, would have been Wisconsin notching a signature win over Alabama when the Crimson Tide visited Madison.

Related: Major takeaways from Wisconsin hiring Kansas’ Jeff Grimes as its new offensive coordinator

Nope, that did not happen. Alabama dominated Wisconsin 42-10 in the Week 3 meeting. The Badgers lost starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke on the opening drive to a season-ending injury. The team showed some fight, holding the score within 11 points in the minutes approaching halftime. But the Crimson Tide struck quickly for an end-of-half score to broaden its lead to 21-3, then added another seven points to start the third quarter to break the game open.

At the time, it was a strong win for the Crimson Tide. A road nonconference win against a strong Big Ten program usually would be a resume-booster.

But in this case, Wisconsin’s end-of-season five-game losing streak and final 5-7 record took the shine away from Alabama’s win. It made the win mostly unimpressive, which proved to be a significant factor when the CFP committee held the Crimson Tide out of the 12-team field in favor of an 11-2 SMU team.

The Crimson Tide and Mustangs were the final two teams in contention for the last at-large bid. SMU is 11-2 with a ACC title game loss to Clemson, while Alabama is 9-3 with losses to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Many believe that the committee’s precedent of adding Alabama over an undefeated ACC champion Florida State in 2023 would lead to them favoring the Crimson Tide again this season.

Whether they should have or not, Alabama’s resume was deemed less impressive than SMU’s. Connecting the dots, that win over Wisconsin could have been the difference, had the Badgers gone on to finish 8-4 or 9-3. Instead, the Badgers missed a bowl game, and held Alabama out of the playoff.

Wisconsin and Alabama will meet in Tuscaloosa in 2025.

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