Superficially, the Nick Saban-shaped void in College Football is now filled by Bill Belichick. GOAT status, senior statesman, plus they share a close relationship, too. In reality, it’s Kalen DeBoer who is the successor to Saban’s proverbial throne in Tuscaloosa. Ironically, the two are going head to head in the battle for a recruit from the ‘26 class. A battle that could be an allegory for where the power now lies in this sport. In its historic figureheads à la Belichick? Or its historic institutions, like Alabama.

As much as Kalen DeBoer has tried to escape the shadow Saban casts, he seems to get hauled further into the darkness. In a development that’s equal parts baffling and troubling, a mass exodus has ensued at Alabama this off-season. A plethora of big-timers on their roster have hit the transfer portal to take their talents elsewhere, headlined by the likes of Justice Haynes and Elijah Pritchett. While the more telling names came out of the offense, the volume of departures largely affected the defense. DeBoer needs to project his own image onto that side of the football, which isn’t his forte. He’s seeking to add a D-lineman to the ranks. However, one of the greatest defensive minds ever in Bill Belichick stands in his way.

Bama is chasing DL Elijah Golden out of Cardinal Mooney in Florida. Golden is rated a 4-star, but his rank fluctuates where you look. 247Sports has him down as the no.1 D-lineman of the 2026 class. But before you begin salivating, the composite industry ranking has him way down at #27. Regardless, he’s clearly a high-calibre talent. The Alabama Football Report says Bama have made him an offer, which the player confirmed on social media. They also said Elijah Golden is a “priority”.

Golden told 247Sports’ Brett Greenberg that his interest level with Bama is “definitely a 10”. “Definitely an offer I wanted … great coaches & great program”, he added. Elijah Golden even told Greenberg he plans to visit Tuscaloosa sometime in the spring. Things do seem to bode well for Kalen DeBoer and defensive line coach Freddie Roach. That said, the road to campus is far from linear. As is the case with most recruits of this stature.

Currently, On3 has Golden predicted to land with UNC and Belichick, albeit they’re favoured marginally. He’s already been on an official visit to Chapel Hill. Belichick has been relatively aggressive during this recruitment cycle at the onset of this new dawn. He’s already got over 2o portal commits for 2025, and the class of ’26 is shaping nicely, too. It goes without saying that linking up with Belichick as a defensive prospect is an enticing prospect.

At Alabama, you can be reduced to one cog in a machine. Even though the machine hasn’t quite been working as smoothly lately. Being in Chapel Hill with Belichick presents Elijah Golden with a chance to stand out more, in tandem with learning his ropes under a defense-first coach. Unlike Kalen DeBoer. Conversely, there is much more uncertainty around Belichick’s future at this juncture. Even if Bama is able to overthrow UNC in this pursuit, or vice versa, there are a lot more thorns in the way for either program.

Bill Belichick and Kalen DeBoer are up against much more than each other

Elijah Golden is a hot commodity right now. The fact that he’s both the #1 DL according to 247Sports and #21 by On3 goes to show how there is a perceived scarcity of talent in that position for 2026. Naturally, all the big boys, and some smaller ones punching above their weight class, are tailing him. For starters, he’s already visited Notre Dame. One look at Golden’s twitter timeline will suffice in telling you his excitement about a future in South Bend with Marcus Freeman.

Elsewhere, he’s also made a visit to in-state Miami. On the theme of in-state, Billy Napier of the Florida Gators hit the road and made the short trip to Elijah Golden’s house about a week ago. Also in the mix, with offers already made, are Oregon, Georgia and Penn State, among a multitude of others. This is the caliber of team Bill Belichick and Kalen DeBoer will have to fend off.

Expect this one to go well into the off-season and perhaps beyond. Primarily, the takeaway is that Kalen DeBoer and Bill Belichick are in a similar boat, the aforementioned Saban factor aside. Both are trying to kickstart a new era, and both have a shortage of talent in key areas. The signs are that they’re both keeping a far-sighted vision, which answers a load of questions for either fanbase.