Ever since Nick Saban hung up his headset, a long shadow’s been cast over Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama tenure. It’s like Saban’s dynasty is the ghost in the machine, with every move getting the ‘What Would Saban Do?’ treatment. That championship snub? Just another log on the fire. From recruiting battles to portal madness and the quarterback headache, history keeps pulling Saban’s era back into the spotlight.
And let’s be real, the GOAT’s period in Tuscaloosa wasn’t exactly short on QB talent. We’re talking NFL heavyweights like Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Jalen Hurts, all racking up trophies in Bama. Now, after Jalen Milroe’s wild ride under DeBoer last season, the HC has got a QB1-sized gap to fill. Ironically, the answer might be buried in the Saban playbook.
Look, DeBoer’s got a full-blown quarterback conundrum on his hands. When you’re juggling talents like Keelon Russell, Ty Simpson, and Austin Mack, it’s a recipe for a real head-scratcher. But it seems SEC insider Chris Marler has an answer to it. Speaking on the SEC Football podcast, he stated,
I think it’s going to be Keelon Russell.” Co-host SEC Mike responded with astonishment, “A freshman right out the gate?” Marler elaborated, “Yeah, it sets up. It sets up for 20; it’s very similar to 2020 in the way it’s like you got this, this one quarterback who’s been a former four-star recruit, former five star, some publications, whatever. But Mac Jones was there for a couple of years, waited, waited, waited, and then in came Bryce Young.” He drew comparisons to Nick Saban’s era…..
Now, it’s evident that Nick Saban always trusted experience over ratings and hype. It’s interesting that Chris Marler is drawing a parallel between what Saban went through and what DeBoer’s dealing with now. Even though he is rooting for Keelon Russell the history says something else. Marler added,
“[Bryce Young], who, at the time, was the highest-ranked recruit in the history of the program. He’s a number one overall player, all that kind of stuff. And he sat for a year, and then, you know, and Mac just played, played incredible. I mean, like, he broke Joe Burrow’s record for produce percentage and QBR or whatever. Now you have a similar situation with Ty Simpson.”
This is where it gets interesting. It’s a scenario reminiscent of the 2020 season when Mac Jones, who had been patiently waiting behind Tua Tagovailoa, took over the starting position and delivered an exceptional performance. Despite the presence of highly-touted freshman Bryce Young, Jones led Alabama to a national championship, highlighting the importance of experience and readiness.
Now, Ty Simpson, a red-shirt junior and former five-star recruit, emerges as a strong contender for the starting quarterback role. His dedication and grasp of Alabama’s system make him a viable choice.
Having spent two seasons backing up Jalen Milroe before playing the last six games of the past season, throwing for 167 yards and scoring a rushing TD, he has proven himself. However, the arrival of Russell presents a new challenge, as his talent and potential may lead the coaching staff to consider starting him despite his freshman status.
But the question now is, will Kalen DeBoer follow Nick Saban’s lead or forge his own path? College football’s a whole different ballgame these days, with the transfer portal and NIL shaking things up. That definitely throws a wrench into DeBoer’s decision.
Well, Russell’s one of the highest-rated recruits Bama’s ever landed, and letting him sit on the bench? Other top programs would be lining up to snatch him. That’s why Marler’s saying, “I have a hard time thinking he’s not gonna play.” This new reality could totally change how Alabama handles things. But, hey, there’s a reason everyone’s buzzing about Keelon Russell in the first place.
The 5-star QB is emerging as a strong contender for the starting role. Not just insiders but even Kalen DeBoer see a lot of potential in Russell, as he says, “It was very evident that he had the “it” factor that you need in a leader in that room.”
Russell’s got an impressive record from Duncanville HS: 29-1 over the last two years, plus back-to-back 6A Division 1 titles. He was even named last season’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year. And get this, 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins is comparing him to Jayden Daniels, saying he’s got that same dynamic playmaking thing going on.
Now, let’s just wait and see who wins the QB1 race. And even though DeBoer is still looking for answers in Saban’s playbook, there’s one thing he’s making the most of: his expertise.
Kalen DeBoer’s recruiting strategy doing wonders for Bama
Well, Kalen DeBoer, fresh off landing the Alabama gig, wasted zero time making his recruiting game plan clear: I’m on it. As he walked into a whole new world, he didn’t flinch before asserting his dominance. And talking about his mindset, DeBoer says, “I’ve recruited in the Southeast from other locations but not from down here and living in the South.
So, I feel like it was really important to surround myself with staff—both coaching staff and recruiting staff—that had those geographical ties, those connections. People who understood the classes that were upcoming, where that talent lay, and had some relationships. I think it fell into place well.” That’s just his confidence speaking.
Moreover, the strategy and confidence are already yielding positive results for Kalen DeBoer. After inheriting a program that was losing talent due to the portal following Nick Saban’s departure, he faced challenges with the one-way exodus.
But once the portal opened in both directions, he was able to turn things around. By bringing in a series of recruits, he was able to fill the gaps in the 2025 class and is now focusing on the 2026 class.
Now, the first domino to fall? It is cornerback Zyan Gibson, followed by Atlanta’s Chris Booker, a talented player for the offensive line, and Georgia edge rusher Jamarion Matthews. These additions boosted Alabama’s position in On3’s 2026 recruiting rankings by 49 spots in just 24 hours.
The interesting part is Alabama now ranks 11th nationally and 6th in the SEC for the 2026 recruiting class, with more recruits expected to join. DeBoer’s just getting warmed up, keeping that classic Bama recruiting pipeline pumping, and making sure they’re loaded with talent for years to come.
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