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Kalen DeBoer is carving his own early path at Alabama with quiet confidence after replacing Saban

Kalen DeBoer is carving his own early path at Alabama with quiet confidence after replacing Saban
I think just like most first practices, uh great energy. Um Guys were excited to get out there. You never, I can't remember really any event many times where you had to coach up the excitement and passion. Um I was all there. Uh These guys have worked hard. We're excited about practice one. So, um you know, always going to be far from perfect. Uh, but each side had its moments and, uh, you know, made plays and that's, uh, that's what you want. I love being the head coach in those times, right? Because the assistants, uh, you know, they want every play to be perfect. And so, you know, they win half, they lose half the time. I get to win all the time because I just choose the side that wins uh on that play. But no, it's, uh it's good having that, that give and take and, um, and I felt that's what we had and um, you know, uh just welcome, welcome to the South, right? Uh for me in particular, just uh practice and, uh, and *** little bit warmer, uh than, than uh the rest of the summer. Uh, it hit us here with practice one. So guys grinded through it. Uh I thought actually, um they kept getting stronger as the day went on, which is what you want to see. And, uh, you know, they kept their spirits high through the very last rep for, for *** guy like Ryan Williams wasn't the key for him through these preseason practices to develop so you can be ready to play at this level. Yeah, consistently just in this trajectory on up. Um, you know, I don't need him day one. I mean, you want every play to be amazing explosive, but you just want him lining up, right? Um, doing the fundamental things, uh making the easy plays and then, you know, because of his ability, uh the big ones will come. So, you know, when your routes on air, run *** good route, catch the ball, accelerate out with good ball security, you know, and you find those consistent, uh, fundamentals and, you know, you stack days and, um, those plays that we know, uh who'll be capable of making will happen. Sorry, go ahead, go ahead since he got back and I don't have *** huge, I guess understanding of what he was *** year ago other than watching on film, but it, it feels like he's in really good shape and, and lean. Um, you know, when you ask people who would have an understanding, coach ballou and so forth, um, you know, it'd be nothing but positive about the progress he's made, uh, strength and explosive numbers I know are up. Um, you know, that's, that's facts. That's real. Um, and then also just, uh, the way his, how he looks, um, you know, leaner, I mean, he's just so dense and he's got so much mass. Um, he's gonna be, be big no matter what. So, um, loved his demeanor out there. Um, he's, he's, uh, it's good to have him, good to have him back, you know, good to have him here. So, no, you won't see me like that. That's his thing. Uh I'll just let him him do that. Uh I think, uh, uh, the strength staff, you know, coach ballou that he's been doing this here now, he knows what it takes, uh, what the, what that looks like throughout the summer, uh, even going in, back into the winter. Um, and, you know, uh, it's, to me it's, now it's getting football shape, you know, and you try to replicate it as best you can and I, I know he's all over it. Um, but there's still something about putting pads on, having that helmet on, you know, some guys wear *** mask and, you know, just breathing through that even, um, you know, having *** mouthpiece in all that good stuff. So, uh these guys are, you know, they had *** good day out there today. Yeah. You know, um I always like to see the film before but, uh, before I make too many comments on missed assignments or anything like that. Uh One or two plays, I think, uh might be, you know, *** little bit more. Uh that, that happened because of maybe those guys being in there and just not uh in sync completely, but that's expected, you know, practice one, you know, new faces out there in the field, but I, I love their energy. I love their attitude, They give great effort. Um, uh, they've really meshed well with the whole team. I think there's *** ton of respect by their teammates. Uh, and that's what you want. Um, *** lot of that starts with just their character and, uh, the work ethic that follows along and they got ability. Uh, now it's just *** matter of getting those reps. Um, so they can be confident in themselves and others can be confident in knowing, uh, and believing that they're going to be in the right spot and, and, uh, that's the direction I think they're headed just overall. *** lot of fans, *** lot of players are trying to learn your way the first day of practice reaction on what you saw. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I, I mean, I, you gotta be real, um, and that's what I tell our guys and, you know, I'm gonna tell our, our team on *** Sunday, um, you know, after *** game what it was, you know, it's, it's tell the truth, Sunday and we gotta be real and then, you know, it, when it comes to games, everyone can see it, you know, if you got to be better or if it was *** great day. Um, I mean, I think it's usually pretty obvious, uh, and when it comes to practice, um, yeah, I mean, I, I, we can't just gloss over things ever. We gotta, we gotta understand where we're at and, uh, we have relationships with each other so we can be real and, um, hold each other accountable. And, uh, today I thought it was *** great practice. Um, anytime, you know, and every day there's things to learn from. You learn from the good, you learn from the bad, you learn from other's mistakes, um, and your own. And so, uh, *** lot of that happened today, the good, the bad, the mistakes and, uh, we get to go watch film, we get to talk about it here, team meeting and, uh, we got *** real, it was *** positive day. Um, I really feel like we've made the most of every practice since I've been here going back to this spring. You know, some are obviously going to be better than others. Coach, you, you talk about both sides got wins today. But even if it was to be the first practice, would you say that either the offense or the defense is ahead of the other at this point? And also what happened to your leg. Yeah, there's our, our, uh, our custodians do *** really good job mopping the floors and I didn't realize it. So, yeah, but, uh, that's not on them. That's on me. Um, uh, as far as who won or who's ahead, I guess. Uh, I, I don't really, I don't really feel like there's one side of the ball, I think, uh, there's position groups within that, um, are continuing to rise up. Um, you know, and, uh, you know, I think it's pretty balanced across, across the board, you know, with the whole team have *** baseline of communication. How, how good is it? What, uh, yeah, you know, I just try to most racks, uh, when I talk about rackets, you know, whatever, four or five play sequence or *** drive, um, in practice, I just love following up with him and, um, he just takes all the coaching and he knows, uh, when I coach him up, that's my job, you know, we talk about, you know, teaching and critiquing and demanding, you know, excellence and, and the best and he, uh, he takes that, you know, and every play looking for it, um, you know, and, and working to be better. Uh, I, I thought he had *** really solid day all around and, uh, I know he's far from reaching what he'll be even come next week, much less. Uh, the first game, is there any difficulty so far? Getting guys used to morning practice s, yeah, I think, um, I think certainly, I think that uh *** few guys, even though we uh really pushed it hard, I think they underestimate the um just the fuel they got to get in their bodies. And so which leads to cramping and things like that. So, um they'll learn from it. That's part of this process. That's part of, we talk about them um grinding every day, refining everything, whether it's note, taking in the meetings to their craft and the, the technique they have to man, I gotta eat more, I gotta get more sleep, gotta drink more, you know, uh hydrate and all that. So I think there's *** couple of guys, you know, when you go really follow up on, you know, the cramp thing is like what you eat, you know, and they didn't eat enough, you know. And so, um that, that will become *** positive uh because throughout the week, um you know, we don't want that cumulative feet fatigue that can happen. Um And by practicing and the, the schedule that will be on, um I just feel like we got it down to where these guys uh will understand it and be able to adjust accordingly and take advantage of it, not uh fall fatigue to it. Have you experienced that Jones held that corner? Um Yeah, I mean, he's, he's taking some snaps at the college football level. And so, um we need him out there um I think there's *** confidence about him just because of that, that, uh, yeah, we need in our, we need in the, in our program always, but also in that position room and, um, you know, all of those guys, the cool thing is I think they, they all respect each other and just pushing each other learning every single day and coach Mo is doing an awesome job. I me with, for her back, came back. Yeah, it's huge. It's huge. I mean, that's, that's where it all starts. Uh I think your team is always, um, gonna be maximized, uh, you know, based on what your offensive line can do because it sets the tempo and it forces the defensive line and linebackers to really do *** good job of fitting their gaps and the run and, um, you can protect the quarterback to where he can go through his reads and, and, uh, receivers, you know, having time to go through their routes, defensive backs now having to make plays, uh, because the protections there. So, uh, these guys up front, um, you know, really *** couple of them haven't been there, uh, throughout the spring, but like you said, Parker now back in there, um, Cayden here, um, you know, Pritchett still, uh, you know, took *** lot of reps. So, uh, he had *** nice day, uh, thought Wilkin did *** nice job, you know, so *** lot of mixing and matching, um, especially at the tackle position, I guess. Uh, the interior three was pretty consistent. Um, but, uh, they, uh, they, they, their reps are going to be really critical for our success and they're, they're them gelling. Yeah, he was, he was almost ready right at the end of spring ball. And so he's had *** good summer and, uh, excited about what he'll bring to the table for us. So, he was right on the verge. If we had had one more week of spring ball, we would have probably made sure he was out there, uh, at that time. Hey, coach from *** speaker standpoint, can you bring in speakers to talk to your team? I do. Uh, the team doesn't know those names so I can. Um, but we, uh, we will certainly have some guys, you know, um, I think first year especially, uh, I really, it's important to me to try to lay that culture. Uh, just make sure it's all right where we want it. And so I eat up *** lot of that time through different things that I've either done in the past or again, just starting over from scratch, uh, with us all being new together. Um, you know, the one thing that the one thing our guys are, they, they're still, they're still finishing summer school here these next couple of days. And so they have *** big block that I even just blocked off here this afternoon. We did the same thing yesterday and then Friday, um, there's some finals that are getting taken. It's not the whole team, but it's *** pretty good chunk and, um, graduation here at the end of the week as well for *** few guys so excited about that, but they're finishing summer school. Um, there will be *** couple of weeks where they don't have anything but football, but then they do start, you know, fall semester, uh, you know, 21st. So, um, we'll bring some speakers in. I think it's great to hear from, you know, people who have been through it experienced great things. Um, you know, that's fun. It's been *** tradition here. I know, uh, something the guys really enjoy. Um, and, you know, we'll keep growing that. But, uh, this year I just also wanted to dial it down *** little bit and make sure, you know, the right messaging was continually coming from, from me. Uh, and our staff out of practice. You made *** concerted effort to visit with every group. I coach, used to stick with feedback. I'm interested what your kind of philosophy is when you're out of practice. Yeah. I mean, I guess if I'm gonna expect that, uh, I have *** relationship with all of them, I need to really be able to get around and they need to see me and, and that I, I care about their progress and can coach them up and, and sitting in the meeting rooms with them, uh, knowing exactly the details that they're being taught. So I can emphasize it to them as well. And when they come up and see me in my office, uh, you know, it's not just general conversations and it's, it's, it's, you know, we can pop on the film and really talk through because I know what's being taught. I know, you know, um, you know, the reps and we have that relationship and that's to me part of, you know, what Phil is, is ***, is *** strength of myself and the staff is us all working together, um us all um all the players just feeling like, man, you know, coach, coach isn't just caring about this position or that position or that side of the ball kind of *** exceeding question. But you have to on that, I asked if he, he's an al guy, he said he was, you were behind him. He had no idea. Did you have *** thing and out? I don't, I don't, this is what you get right here. So with, with *** broken shin. So yeah, I feel ready to. Yeah. Um they had *** good spring. Um and I this is again, they, they got some of the install again and got some of the technical work in the summer, but now here they get it uh another time around. And so, you know, that growth, you always say growth from year one to year two to me, it's from the spring to the fall. It's the second really full install and time that they've, uh, they've kind of heard the lingo the language, um, how they're being taught the reps. And so, uh, what we need to see from them is just taking that next big step and then much like the question with Ryan, um, you know, also being *** younger guy on offense, uh, you just want to see that consistency, you know, consistency builds trust and that trust uh is gonna just gonna be something that uh the whether old or young. Um we all got to gel and whoever's on the football field, you know, there's got to be that trust within so, uh they can have confidence and go out there and make plays.
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Kalen DeBoer is carving his own early path at Alabama with quiet confidence after replacing Saban
Video above: Kalen DeBoer speaks after Alabama football's first day of fall camp Kalen DeBoer鈥檚 plane hadn鈥檛 even landed in Tuscaloosa before he reached out to Alabama鈥檚 most important recruit.It was a Friday night in January after DeBoer鈥檚 whirlwind courtship to become the successor to Nick Saban, a seven-time national champion and relentless recruiter. DeBoer was mid-air when he called coveted wide receiver Ryan Williams, who had de-committed from the Crimson Tide after Saban鈥檚 retirement.Twelve days after that call, Williams re-committed to Alabama, where he figures to make an immediate impact as a freshman.It didn鈥檛 hurt that Jeff Kelly and Williams 鈥� his star player, a top-five prospect nationally 鈥� were watching together as DeBoer鈥檚 high-powered Washington offense outlasted Texas in the College Football Playoff when two Huskies鈥� receivers topped 120 yards.鈥淚 really thought Ryan would go elsewhere,鈥� recalled Kelly, Williams鈥� coach at Saraland High School in suburban Mobile. 鈥淗e took a couple of official visits and then he went up and spent the weekend (in Tuscaloosa). He really came back with just a great confidence and a feel for a guy that he could go in and play for.鈥淲hen he got back from that visit, I think he knew that was the place for him. It felt like home.鈥滵ifferent but effectiveSaban was businesslike and a larger-than-life figure when he walked into high schools and recruits鈥� living rooms, drawing attention and top prospects like a magnet.DeBoer is more low-key, affable and quietly confident. He shows no signs of feeling the pressure that comes with replacing a coach who won seven national championships (including one at LSU) with deep, talented teams year in, year out.鈥淗e鈥檚 just one of the guys. He is pleasant,鈥� Mark Freeman, coach at Thompson High School in suburban Birmingham, said of DeBoer. 鈥淐oach has a lot on him. I think he does a great job of hiding his stress points and some of the difficulties he has with the job. He hides it.鈥漇aban built his program on the recruiting trail, piling up blue-chip prospects and future high NFL draft picks from Julio Jones to Tua Tagovailoa to Bryce Young, the Tide鈥檚 fourth Heisman Trophy winner under Saban and ever.A fiercely intense and sometimes scowling force on the sidelines, Saban was as effective as any coach in living rooms and high schools throughout the Southeast and beyond.鈥淲hen coach Saban shows up at your campus, it鈥檚 kind of like what I would imagine it was back in the day when Elvis would show up,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淗e had such a presence and a respect and a following.鈥滵eBoer is still building that in 鈥楤ama country.Replacing a legendThe question comes so frequently, it would have undoubtedly frustrated Saban: What鈥檚 it like to be the man who replaces The Man?Every single time, DeBoer takes it in stride like it鈥檚 the first time he鈥檚 heard it.鈥淚 totally get it. I understand there鈥檚 only one Coach Saban,鈥� DeBoer said at SEC media days in July. 鈥淭here will only ever be one Coach Saban. This program is special, and I guess I just take it as a great honor to be the one that gets to do everything we can to carry on the tradition.鈥滿aybe it鈥檚 his nature to not be phased by such things. A lesson from his coach at Sioux Falls in South Dakota, Bob Young, also hit home. DeBoer said Young told him he started as a young high school coach trying to be like his idol Vince Lombardi. He found 鈥測ou just have to be who you are鈥� and find your own path in leading a team, the Alabama coach said.鈥淓veryone鈥檚 different, right? We all have our ways of leading a team,鈥� DeBoer said, who noted there are certain 鈥渘on-negotiables鈥� like discipline and commitment.鈥淚 think a lot of those things are very similar,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淭hey may just be done in different ways. Obviously there鈥檚 a recipe for success with what Coach Saban did that was outstanding, the best to probably ever do it. I just know there鈥檚 different ways to do things and it can all be done right, it can all be effective.鈥漄uiet confidenceRon McKeevery remembers being an off-the-field staffer at Eastern Michigan sharing a two-bedroom house with then-offensive coordinator DeBoer 鈥� once an on-field opponent as players 鈥� and Ryan Grubbs.Two bedrooms. Three residents. The higher-ranking DeBoer claimed the living room, where he wrapped himself in a blanket and slept on the floor.鈥淗e鈥檚 one of those guys that will do stuff nine times before he asks you to do it even once,鈥� said McKeevery, who remains with DeBoer as his special assistant. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to be the hardest-working guy in the room. He grew up on a farm in South Dakota, so he鈥檚 been a model of the intensity and hard work that鈥檚 necessary to win at a high level. But he balances that with the compassion and the humility.鈥滿cKeevery says DeBoer is 鈥�100% still the same guy鈥� who happily yielded the bedrooms to his colleagues.鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably the biggest thing about him, why he鈥檚 the perfect guy for the job,鈥� McKeevery said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got the right balance of humility and reverence for a place like Alabama mixed with a quiet confidence in his abilities and his knowledge of the game.鈥淭he bright lights of SEC football are not going to be too big for him. But he鈥檚 gonna be the same guy that I played against.鈥滲uilding a foundationSo far, DeBoer has built a 2025 recruiting class rated No. 2 nationally, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.His biggest coups have come outside the state, including landing Texas quarterback Keelon Russell. Rival Auburn, meanwhile, has pulled in pledges from eight of the state鈥檚 top-10 2025 recruits.Still, DeBoer did hit the ground running. Saraland鈥檚 Kelly figures the first call from Alabama鈥檚 new coach 鈥渨as probably on his plane flight鈥� to Tuscaloosa.Courtney Morgan, DeBoer鈥檚 general manager, said the coach hit every speaking engagement he could after he arrived. They quickly went to the state鈥檚 four biggest cities 鈥� Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham 鈥� and hosted socials on recruiting trips to meet as many coaches as possible.DeBoer can鈥檛 be Saban and doesn鈥檛 try in recruiting or otherwise. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 like Phil Jackson walking in a house,鈥� Morgan said of Saban.But unlike some of his earlier coaching stops, DeBoer now runs a program where he can recruit nationally. Combine that work ethic with the Bama logo and that, Morgan says, 鈥渋s when the magic happens.鈥濃淚 think with Coach DeBoer, that鈥檚 actually who he is as a person,鈥� said Morgan, pointing to his boss鈥檚 sincerity. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the No. 1 characteristic of him that jumps out for everyone who meets him is how friendly and down to earth he is.鈥滱nother coach who made a similar long-distance move, Boise State鈥檚 Bryan Harsin, struggled to make land in-state recruits at Auburn. Freeman said he has already met DeBoer three times, three more than Harsin.When Western Kentucky visits No. 5 Alabama on Aug. 31, the on-field comparisons to Saban will also begin, though DeBoer clearly is already carving out his own niche, his own approach.鈥淐oach Saban is an iconic hero, particularly in our state. And I think coach DeBoer will grow into that in some ways,鈥� said Freeman, who is longtime friends with Tide assistant and Saban holdover Freddie Roach. 鈥淭here鈥檚 never been another Coach (Bear) Bryant, in my opinion.鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that there will be another Coach Saban down there, but that doesn鈥檛 mean Coach DeBoer won鈥檛 have his place the same way. Just different styles.鈥�>> FOLLOW YOUR TEAMS: Sports coverage from 米兰体育 13

Video above: Kalen DeBoer speaks after Alabama football's first day of fall camp

Kalen DeBoer鈥檚 plane hadn鈥檛 even landed in Tuscaloosa before he reached out to Alabama鈥檚 most important recruit.

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It was a Friday night in January after to become the successor to Nick Saban, a seven-time national champion and relentless recruiter. DeBoer was mid-air when he called coveted wide receiver Ryan Williams, who had de-committed from the Crimson Tide after

Twelve days after that call, Williams re-committed to Alabama, where he figures to make an immediate impact as a freshman.

It didn鈥檛 hurt that Jeff Kelly and Williams 鈥� his star player, a top-five prospect nationally 鈥� were watching together as DeBoer鈥檚 high-powered Washington offense outlasted Texas in the College Football Playoff when

鈥淚 really thought Ryan would go elsewhere,鈥� recalled Kelly, Williams鈥� coach at Saraland High School in suburban Mobile. 鈥淗e took a couple of official visits and then he went up and spent the weekend (in Tuscaloosa). He really came back with just a great confidence and a feel for a guy that he could go in and play for.

鈥淲hen he got back from that visit, I think he knew that was the place for him. It felt like home.鈥�

Different but effective

Saban was businesslike and a larger-than-life figure when he walked into high schools and recruits鈥� living rooms, drawing attention and top prospects like a magnet.

is more low-key, affable and quietly confident. He shows no signs of feeling the pressure that comes with who won seven national championships (including one at LSU) with deep, talented teams year in, year out.

鈥淗e鈥檚 just one of the guys. He is pleasant,鈥� Mark Freeman, coach at Thompson High School in suburban Birmingham, said of DeBoer. 鈥淐oach has a lot on him. I think he does a great job of hiding his stress points and some of the difficulties he has with the job. He hides it.鈥�

Saban built his program on the recruiting trail, piling up blue-chip prospects and future high NFL draft picks from Julio Jones to Tua Tagovailoa to Bryce Young, the Tide鈥檚 fourth Heisman Trophy winner under Saban and ever.

A fiercely intense and sometimes scowling force on the sidelines, Saban was as effective as any coach in living rooms and high schools throughout the Southeast and beyond.

鈥淲hen coach Saban shows up at your campus, it鈥檚 kind of like what I would imagine it was back in the day when Elvis would show up,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淗e had such a presence and a respect and a following.鈥�

DeBoer is still building that in 鈥楤ama country.

Replacing a legend

The question comes so frequently, it would have undoubtedly frustrated Saban: What鈥檚 it like to be the man who replaces The Man?

Every single time, DeBoer takes it in stride like it鈥檚 the first time he鈥檚 heard it.

鈥淚 totally get it. I understand there鈥檚 only one Coach Saban,鈥� DeBoer said at SEC media days in July. 鈥淭here will only ever be one Coach Saban. This program is special, and I guess I just take it as a great honor to be the one that gets to do everything we can to carry on the tradition.鈥�

Maybe it鈥檚 his nature to not be phased by such things. A lesson from in South Dakota, Bob Young, also hit home. DeBoer said Young told him he started as a young high school coach trying to be like his idol Vince Lombardi. He found 鈥測ou just have to be who you are鈥� and find your own path in leading a team, the Alabama coach said.

鈥淓veryone鈥檚 different, right? We all have our ways of leading a team,鈥� DeBoer said, who noted there are certain 鈥渘on-negotiables鈥� like discipline and commitment.

鈥淚 think a lot of those things are very similar,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淭hey may just be done in different ways. Obviously there鈥檚 a recipe for success with what Coach Saban did that was outstanding, the best to probably ever do it. I just know there鈥檚 different ways to do things and it can all be done right, it can all be effective.鈥�

Quiet confidence

Ron McKeevery remembers being an off-the-field staffer at Eastern Michigan sharing a two-bedroom house with then-offensive coordinator DeBoer 鈥� once an on-field opponent as players 鈥� and Ryan Grubbs.

Two bedrooms. Three residents. The higher-ranking DeBoer claimed the living room, where he wrapped himself in a blanket and slept on the floor.

鈥淗e鈥檚 one of those guys that will do stuff nine times before he asks you to do it even once,鈥� said McKeevery, who remains with DeBoer as his special assistant. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to be the hardest-working guy in the room. He grew up on a farm in South Dakota, so he鈥檚 been a model of the intensity and hard work that鈥檚 necessary to win at a high level. But he balances that with the compassion and the humility.鈥�

McKeevery says DeBoer is 鈥�100% still the same guy鈥� who happily yielded the bedrooms to his colleagues.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably the biggest thing about him, why he鈥檚 the perfect guy for the job,鈥� McKeevery said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got the right balance of humility and reverence for a place like Alabama mixed with a quiet confidence in his abilities and his knowledge of the game.

鈥淭he bright lights of SEC football are not going to be too big for him. But he鈥檚 gonna be the same guy that I played against.鈥�

Building a foundation

So far, DeBoer has built a 2025 recruiting class rated No. 2 nationally, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

His biggest coups have come outside the state, including landing Texas quarterback Keelon Russell. Rival Auburn, meanwhile, has pulled in pledges from eight of the state鈥檚 top-10 2025 recruits.

Still, DeBoer did hit the ground running. Saraland鈥檚 Kelly figures the first call from Alabama鈥檚 new coach 鈥渨as probably on his plane flight鈥� to Tuscaloosa.

Courtney Morgan, DeBoer鈥檚 general manager, said the coach hit every speaking engagement he could after he arrived. They quickly went to the state鈥檚 four biggest cities 鈥� Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham 鈥� and hosted socials on recruiting trips to meet as many coaches as possible.

DeBoer can鈥檛 be Saban and doesn鈥檛 try in recruiting or otherwise. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 like Phil Jackson walking in a house,鈥� Morgan said of Saban.

But unlike some of his earlier coaching stops, DeBoer now runs a program where he can recruit nationally. Combine that work ethic with the Bama logo and that, Morgan says, 鈥渋s when the magic happens.鈥�

鈥淚 think with Coach DeBoer, that鈥檚 actually who he is as a person,鈥� said Morgan, pointing to his boss鈥檚 sincerity. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the No. 1 characteristic of him that jumps out for everyone who meets him is how friendly and down to earth he is.鈥�

Another coach who made a similar long-distance move, Boise State鈥檚 Bryan Harsin, struggled to make land in-state recruits at Auburn. Freeman said he has already met DeBoer three times, three more than Harsin.

When Western Kentucky visits on Aug. 31, the to Saban will also begin, though DeBoer clearly is already carving out his own niche, his own approach.

鈥淐oach Saban is an iconic hero, particularly in our state. And I think coach DeBoer will grow into that in some ways,鈥� said Freeman, who is longtime friends with Tide assistant and Saban holdover Freddie Roach. 鈥淭here鈥檚 never been another Coach (Bear) Bryant, in my opinion.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that there will be another Coach Saban down there, but that doesn鈥檛 mean Coach DeBoer won鈥檛 have his place the same way. Just different styles.鈥�

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