Nick Saban was an elite recruiter for the University of Alabama football in 16 of 17 years.
His first major signing class in 2008 became the catalyst that birthed six national championships, nine Southeastern Conference Championships, four Heisman Trophy winners, and many more accolades. Saban was special in getting guys to commit and sign to the Crimson Tide before and during the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era.
However, as dominant as Saban was, has Kalen DeBoer won faster than him on the recruiting trail in his first year? The narrative upon him being hired from Washington was he could not recruit the south to southeast region of the nation.
DeBoer and his staff have shocked everyone by striking the iron hot, landing 18 verbal commitments.
The 49-year-old has grabbed in-state athletes, athletes in the south to southeast region, and players from other areas. Saban’s first major class, which had 30 players, was mainly comprised of in-state and south to southeast talent. He got one player from West Virginia (Corey Smith, punter) and a player from Michigan (Mark Ingram, running back) that became the program’s first-ever Heisman winner.
Coach DeBoer is touching the United States in his first recruiting cycle.
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Six of DeBoer’s 18 commitments are from Alabama.
Eleven are from the south to southeast region as he has six from Alabama, three from Georgia, one from Mississippi, and one from Texas.
DeBoer has pulled four commitments from California, one from Maryland, one from New Jersey, and one from Pennsylvania. All of these are from marquee high school programs, including Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif. Saban did not find his quarterback of the future in his first marquee class, yet DeBoer has his with Keelon Russell of Duncanville (Texas) High School.
Saban’s first big-time class finished at No. 3 in the nation.
DeBoer’s is already ranked No. 2 and could finish at No. 1 when December rolls around for the early signing period.
Saban brought the program back to national prominence, but what DeBoer is doing in recruiting before coaching a regular season game is unbelievable. He has athletes believing that Alabama is still Alabama without Saban as the head coach and guys are loving his energy.
DeBoer has players believing they can make an impact in Tuscaloosa and they are committing on the spot.
He is off to an incredible start, and it will be fun to see how this class finishes out.
People will always appreciate Coach Saban, but DeBoer is on a roll right now.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
