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Kalen DeBoer highlights two areas Alabama will be improved in 2025
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Kalen DeBoer expects Alabama to be better at receiver and defensive back next season.
In a wide-ranging interview with CBS Sports’ Josh Pate that published on Friday, the second-year Alabama head coach was asked where he expects to see the most improvement within his team year-over-year. And it didn’t take him long to answer.
“I think JaMarcus Shephard with the receiving group — we’ve had some turnover and some guys that we’ve brought into the program that I think add to Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard,” Kalen DeBoer said. “It’s just really fun seeing the personality of Shep coming out with that group, really attacking everything. I’m excited about the development at that position.
“And then the defensive backs. A year ago, where we were at, and we had names, we brought guys in, but they were completely new to this program and, in many cases, completely new to college football. We took some lumps, but those lumps (weren’t) relative to what people thought we would take at that position. … I’m excited about those 2 groups and just how different they are from a year ago.”
DeBoer also pointed to linebacker and offensive line as position groups that should improve. The Tide got back Deonate Lawson and Justin Jefferson for 2025 when the staff didn’t expect to have either. Rather than a young group, they have 2 sturdy veterans. And there are starting pieces on the offensive line to build around.
Alabama lost 4 games in DeBoer’s first season. It was the first campaign since 2010 that ended with more than 2 losses. The Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff and dropped an ugly bowl game to Michigan.
DeBoer needs to get the Tide back in the CFP in 2025. Year 1 post-Nick Saban was a challenging one for a fanbase that had grown accustomed to competing for national championships year in and year out. If the secondary is better, Alabama will be scary. The Tide ranked top-15 last season in passing success rate and EPA per dropback faced, per Game on Paper.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
