He made a smooth maneuver through Chuck Martin and the University of Miami at Ohio accusing him of tampering; however, Kalen DeBoer had something very positive to say about a veteran Alabama wide receiver to reporters.
DeBoer spoke for a little over 20 minutes in his final presser Thursday of fall camp.
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He said the team is prepared to take the field and hit someone else after thudding with each other.
DeBoer brings a unique offensive style from his coaching stops to the University of Alabama.
He uses motion, movements, shifts, different formations, and it is the window dressing before the snap that frustrates defenses. Alabama did not run a lot of sets with three receivers during the Nick Saban era, yet we will see it with DeBoer.
Kobe Prentice, a junior, is a player that fits DeBoer’s style.
The 5-foot-10, 188-pounder is known for his speed, but DeBoer spoke about what separates the in-state product from everyone else at the position. Prentice’s versatility in all receiver roles has him ready to have a monster campaign.
“He can play inside and outside, and that is something we are trying to groom all our receivers to do,” DeBoer said about Prentice’s versatility. “That is the area where he has grown his game through fall camp. When he gets in space and somebody is one-on-one with him, there are very few people that can keep up. We have seen this through spring, summer, fall camp, he just has that ability to run. I think that under Coach Shep (JaMarcus Shephard) and being pushed by the rest of the corps, he has really done a good job improving his game.”
He has lined up in the slot for much of fall practice, but Prentice can play X, slot, or Z as a receiver. The former four-star has the speed, explosiveness, route concepts, and hands to excel in all three spots. DeBoer saw Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan all get selected in the 2024 NFL Draft from Washington, and he is excited to produce Prentice to the same level.
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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.
