Kalen DeBoer is walking that mile for his new team. Well, stepping into the big shoes of GOAT coach Nick Saban is no joke. Saban’s already got six championship titles under his belt for the Bama, so the pressure’s on for DeBoer to keep that winning tradition alive.

Well, DeBoer isn’t just focused on coaching; he’s also bringing in some much-needed motivation to his roster. With just two weeks before the season kicks off, Jalen Milroe and the rest of the squad could use a little extra push. Thus enters JJ Watt, the NFL’s great defensive end and a future Hall of Famer.

On August 16th, Alabama’s official football page shared some photos of Watt speaking to the team. The team wrote, “Huge thanks to @jjwatt for visiting and speaking to the team,” and it’s easy to see why. Now, Bama’s known for its offense, but the defense could always use some inspiration—and who better than a three-time Defensive Player of the Year?

Even Watt himself chimed in on the post, saying, “Appreciate the invitation, hospitality, and the attentiveness of the guys today. Pleasure was all mine.” But he couldn’t resist adding a little humor, saying, “Wishing you guys all the best this season, except for September 14th!” And that’s when Alabama faces Watt’s alma mater, Wisconsin, a team he clearly still holds close to his heart.

Now, it’s been nearly a decade since these two teams met, with Alabama winning it last time in 2015. Now, ahead of this matchup, Watt’s visit adds a bit more excitement with his presence. Meanwhile, DeBoer also seems committed to bringing in more top-tier names to inspire his boys. 

Kalen DeBoer instills some motivation

Kalen DeBoer is really cranking up the energy for the Crimson Tide, and it’s not just during fall practice. Along with the intense training sessions, he’s bringing in some motivational speakers to fire up the team. Just last week, former Alabama running back Mark Ingram II, who played under Nick Saban, dropped by to share his wisdom. DeBoer acknowledged his visit with a post on X, saying, “Appreciate you dropping in @markingramII! Roll Tide!”

But Ingram wasn’t the only guest. The week before, DeBoer invited Hunter Pinke to speak. Pinke, a former college tight end, had his life turned upside down after a horrible skiing accident that left him with just a 2% chance of walking again. Despite the odds, Pinke is now a wheelchair basketball star. Now, his message to the team was clear: “I don’t know for a fact that you’re gonna win a national championship this year. But the direction has been set. That’s where we’re going.” Well, this mindset has become Alabama’s new mantra.

Earlier this week, Alabama faced a slight setback when the AP Polls ranked them No. 5 with 1,077 points. While it’s not a bad ranking, it’s the first time since 2009 that they’ve been outside the top three. But for now, the focus seems on setting the right direction and not getting caught up in the ranking fiascos.