Alabama Enters Year 2 Under DeBoer Hungry for Redemption

Alabama is heading into the 2025 season with a chip on its shoulder. After finishing 9–4 last year and missing the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide say they’re not just hungry — they’re starving. The team is entering its second year under head coach Kalen DeBoer, and players say the transition from Nick Saban to DeBoer has grown smoother over time.

“I feel like especially last year, it is hard, man,” linebacker Deontae Lawson said at SEC Media Days. “You’re coming from Coach Saban to Coach DeBoer, everyone — everyone — is going to have something to say. Everyone wants to know, ‘How’s the new coach?’ or ‘What’s the difference?’ or something like that. But yeah man, we were all for Coach DeBoer. I remember he walked in — the first day he walked in — we all sat up in our chairs ready to go. And from that day we all been on the DeBoer train, probably more now than ever.”

Coming Off a Disappointing Finish

Alabama missed the playoff for just the third time in 11 years and fell outside the AP Top 10 for the first time since 2007. Despite finishing No. 11 in the selection committee’s final rankings, the Tide were bumped from the 12-team playoff to make room for ACC champion Clemson.

While much of the preseason attention is focused on Texas, Alabama is quietly building confidence.

“We’re starving,” Lawson said. “We’re not hungry, we’re like starving. And that’s different. That’s different. … Just to see no one transfer out of here when the time came, man, it just shows you that we got guys that’s willing to do what they have to do to make us the most successful team that we can be.

Learning From the Four Losses

Coach DeBoer said his focus this offseason has shifted from establishing the culture to correcting what went wrong in last season’s close losses.

“That’s where we have to be better,” DeBoer said. “because we fell short, five- six- seven-point losses. It’s one play here, one play there that might have changed the outlook of the game. “In some cases, it wasn’t something anyone was doing wrong, it was just, ‘Man, be better,'” he said. “It’s not on the players, it’s not on the coaches, it’s just reps. Repetitions. Just do more together, more time together helps you feel more comfortable.”

He believes the team is better prepared this time around, especially with new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who previously worked with DeBoer at Washington.

“You still don’t know Week 1 exactly what it’s going to look like, right?” DeBoer said. “… I know what I’ve got with these guys. It doesn’t guarantee you anything, but it gives you optimism, a lot of excitement, and continue to keep it honed in and headed in the right direction all together.”

Quarterback Battle Still Ongoing

The starting quarterback job is still up for grabs, but DeBoer said Ty Simpson would be the starter if the season started today. Simpson, now the most experienced option, has thrown for 381 yards over three seasons and completed 58% of his passes.

Austin Mack followed DeBoer from Washington and threw just three passes last season, completing two for 39 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Keelon Russell, the No. 2 player in the ESPN 300 and Gatorade National Player of the Year, is also in the mix.

DeBoer praised Simpson’s leadership and effort, though he admitted the quarterback sometimes puts too much pressure on himself.

, “if you’ve given everything you have, you’re not letting us down because he didn’t convert a third down, or didn’t have a drive that ended in a touchdown. … you don’t have to live in that, the fear of failure,” DeBoer said.

He also noted that inexperience can lead to rushed decisions. “When you’re not experienced … sometimes you feel like, ‘Man, I want to go make that play,’ and it isn’t the right calculated risk to take… or things happen a little faster because you don’t have enough of those reps, but he’s done a great job. He’s working hard to make sure he’s taking care of the football, leading us. He’s obviously a great teammate.”

Belief in DeBoer’s Vision

Offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor said the team has full confidence in its quarterback protection — and in DeBoer’s leadership.

“I knew that our athletic director wasn’t just going to choose anybody to have this position,” Proctor said, “and if coach DeBoer being there is the right fit, then I’m behind it.”

As the Crimson Tide prepare for camp, players and coaches alike say they’re ready to flip the script.

”I’m just super excited. Lawson said. I know the guys are ready, and we go at it with each other every day, and I’m sure we all can’t wait until we see a different color jersey even though we haven’t even got into camp yet.”