Alabama’s athletics department, distinguished guests, Nick Saban, Terry Saban, and the media saw a new head football coach for the Crimson Tide grace the podium Saturday for his introductory press conference.
Kalen DeBoer, a former head coach of Washington, spoke with confidence, clarity, calmness, and excitement about coming behind Saban and continuing the success of Alabama football. DeBoer wanted the challenge of following Saban, but he knows the expectations of the program. One of the strongest parts of the team is an area DeBoer thrives in.
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The Tide has four scholarship quarterbacks returning next season, including a five-star freshman. DeBoer, a wide receiver at Sioux Falls from 1993 to 1996, served as a wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator in college football.
He mentored Brogan Roback to make tremendous growth at Eastern Michigan from 2014 to 2016.
Roback posted 2,694 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to seven interception in 2016, propelling Eastern Michigan to a 7-6 season. DeBoer produced his first 3,000+ yard quarterback in 2018 at Fresno State. Marcus McMaryion had 3,629 yards passing and 25 touchdowns to five interceptions. McMaryion also had eight rushing scores, pacing the Bulldogs to average 34.6 points per game. Fresno State went 12-2 in 2018 with McMaryion and DeBoer carving defenses up in the air and on the ground.
In 2019, DeBoer was at Indiana University and had Peyton Ramsey at quarterback.
Ramsey had a good touchdown to interception ratio, tossing 13 scores to five picks. Ramsey had seven rushing touchdowns, helping the Hoosiers to an 8-5 record in 2019. DeBoer also had Michael Penix Jr. at Indiana before coaching him again at Washington. Penix showed potential as Ramsey’s backup with 12 total touchdowns (two rushing scores) to four interceptions.
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DeBoer got his hands on Jake Haener at Fresno State as a head coach in 2020. He pushed Haener to become a 4,000+ yard passer in 2021 with 4,096 yards and 33 touchdowns. Haener led an offense that averaged 33.4 points per game, and the Bulldogs finished at 10-3. DeBoer put together an unbelievable story with Penix in two years at Washington. Penix became a two-time 4,000+ yard quarterback, including 4,903 yards passing with 36 touchdowns in 2023. DeBoer guided Penix to be a Heisman Trophy finalist and a Pac-12 Champion at quarterback. Penix got the Huskies to the College Football Playoff under DeBoer.
He is good with quarterbacks, and DeBoer knows the position will be critical to win at Alabama.
“Our offense will be quarterback driven,” DeBoer said to Alabama reporters. “The quarterback has to be a leader.”
DeBoer wants a fast, physical, and explosive team. He knows it starts with having the right quarterback, and the Tide has five for him to select from. Jalen Milroe, a rising junior, started in 2023 for a Crimson Tide team that won an SEC Championship.
He totaled 35 touchdowns — 23 passing, 12 rushing — and was voted a permanent team captain. Alabama also has Ty Simpson, Dylan Lonergan, and Julian Sayin in the quarterback room. DeBoer has an offense based on timing and rhythm.
It will be interesting to see who rises to the top at quarterback under DeBoer.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
