Kalen DeBoer says winning championships requires ‘physical nature’
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Kalen DeBoer’s football teams aren’t exactly known for their physicality.
As Greg McElroy of Always College Football pointed out on Wednesday while speaking with DeBoer, DeBoer’s teams at Fresno State in 2020 and 2021 were both hard-nosed, power-run teams with dominant offensive lines.
Last season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide attempted the most passing attempts in the SEC, tied with Ole Miss, while ranking 7th in rushing attempts and 15th in rushing yards per game.
McElroy asked DeBoer to address the fans who believe Alabama more of a “pass-happy” offense under DeBoer. Here’s what he had to say:
“I really do believe that you don’t win championships without a physical nature to your program. That happens through what you do in practice. That’s what we want to become. I know what that looks like. We’ve done it in multiple places. … I can’t wait to the point where we get back to that being what we truly are.”
Hear more from DeBoer and McElroy below:
The Crimson Tide are looking to return to the College Football Playoff for the second straight season after beating Oklahoma and falling to Indiana last season. And with redshirt freshman Keelon Russell likely running the show in 2026, it would make sense for Alabama to prioritize a consistent run game.
Alabama opens its season on September 5 against East Carolina.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
