Kalen DeBoer reveals the most competitive player he’s coached at Alabama

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It takes a special type of competitiveness to cut it at Alabama even in the short time that Kalen DeBoer has been there. But it takes a different type of mindset to separate yourself from the pack of future first round picks throughout the roster.

During an interview with AL.com on Thursday, DeBoer was asked who the most competitive guy he’s coached has been so far with the Crimson Tide.

“I love what Tyler Booker brought,” DeBoer said. “And I think there’s a lot of competitive guys, but I love how his competitiveness filtered onto the rest of the guys. That was important to me coming in and it being my first year here, what that did as a far as transcending to the next group of guys that have taken over. I mean Deontae Lawson, Ty Simpson, Tim Keenan III, Parker (Brailsford), I think they all as captains last year followed that in line. I’m looking for the next group to do the same.”

Booker originally arrived at Alabama in 2022 and was named a starter by Nick Saban the following season in 2023. After Saban retired and DeBoer arrived to replace him, Booker refused to leave the Crimson Tide further cementing his legacy and leadership throughout the team.

His efforts during his final year would pay off as Booker was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77