People will evaluate him for his recruiting power in the NCAA transfer portal and from the 2025 freshmen class on down, but Kalen DeBoer did accomplish an impressive feat by retaining the majority of Alabama's 2024 recruiting class.

The Crimson Tide signed 23 student-athletes in the early signing period; however, it lost two names when Nick Saban announced his retirement from coaching the Tide. Julian Sayin (five-star quarterback) and Jameer Grimsley (four-star athlete) decided to transfer to other schools. Twenty-one of the 23 names, 91 percent, remained on the University of Alabama's roster.

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Coach DeBoer was able to keep the majority of players in house. In a new podcast, I explained to John Ivory and Eli Walker of Touchdown Alabama Magazine how impressive it was for DeBoer to keep the roster together. 

Our very own Stephen M. Smith talks how impressive of a job Kalen DeBoer has done retaining almost all of Alabama’s 2024 talent 😲 pic.twitter.com/gfhyMHBoQC

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) February 12, 2024

Spring practice is coming soon for the Tide.

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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.