How Kalen DeBoer is using his playing experience to help Alabama receivers

Sep 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer talks to wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 42-16. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

With JaMarcus Shephard’s attention now split between two roles, Alabama is getting some extra help when it comes to coaching up its wide receivers for the College Football Playoff. 

Shephard recently accepted the head coaching job at Oregon State, which has caused him to miss some time as Alabama’s receivers coach during practice this week. That’s led to analysts Torrey Gill and Bret Bowlin filling in during his absence. Of course, there’s also another notable name on staff with a special interest in the receiver corps. 

It’s been roughly 30 years since Kalen DeBoer suited up as a receiver for Sioux Falls. The 51-year-old  head coach doesn’t have the same spring in his step as he did back then, but his knowledge of the position has come in handy for Alabama this week.

“He was in the meeting this morning,” receiver Ryan Williams said following Friday’s practice. “It’s just cool having your head coach back there, just serving some detail because he played the position.

“I mean it helps because that’s the first thing he’s going to look at. And that’s been the case since I got here, but it’s tuning up a bit more right now, just because he feels the need to help out a little bit more. We enjoy it, honestly.”

While DeBoer understands the challenges Alabama’s receiving corps is facing more than most, the head coach doesn’t baby the players at his former position. 

“He’s probably the hardest on us if anything,” receiver Germie Bernard said earlier this month. 

DeBoer didn’t rise to the same heights as Bernard or Williams, but he was a force at the NAIA level. DeBoer currently ranks second on Sioux Falls’ all-time receptions list with 234 over his career. He ranks third in the program in career receiving yards (3,400) and career receiving touchdowns (33). That includes a dominant senior season that saw him haul in 99 catches for 1,372 yards. 

Williams said he’s seen a couple of highlights from his head coach’s playing days. 

“He’s solid,” Williams said. “Big guy. You know, he had more speed then than he does now.” 

At least some of those traits have stayed with the head coach over the years. 

“He definitely still got good hands,” Williams said with a smile. “He ain’t got much twitch. Don’t tell him I said that.” 

In all seriousness, Alabama’s receiving corps will need all the help it can get as it looks to shake off a sloppy performance during the Crimson Tide’s 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Tide receivers contributed to a five-drop outing for the offense, while quarterback Ty Simpson completed just 19 of 39 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown with an interception. 

No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma will kick off at 7 p.m. CT next Friday in Norman, Oklahoma. The game will be aired on ESPN and ABC.