Despite Kalen Deboer Refusing to Emulate Nick Saban, Former Alabama WR Drops 5 Word Message to Show Faith in New Boss

Nick Saban‘s fans got a great shock when he retired, which was very obvious considering the kind of coach Nick was—one who made the team win six national championships and 11 SEC titles during his 17 seasons. Kalen DeBeor took over the team with Nick’s guidance and support, keeping the legacy alive but refusing to emulate Nick Saban. Can taking the legacy forward be considered as copying?

With all the comparisons going on since Kalen joined in he never let the criticism and doubts bring him down. It is hard to imagine Kalen angry, as we have never seen him like that. Despite his refusal to copy Nick Saban, his team supports him and so do the former players of Alabama like Devonta Smith.

Faith in the new boss

A Tweet on the 30th of June that Rivals posted quoted Devonta Smith’s opinion about Alabama’s post-Saban future, which seems to be none other than bright like a star. The tweet was captioned as “@DeVontaSmith_6 isn’t worried about the future of Alabama Football”. For obvious reasons, why should he be even worried? Keeping in mind the kind of leader Kalen has proved himself to be in such a short span, he did show what he is capable of. Landed on 20 verbal commitments for the 2025 class with a golden addition like Ryan Williams on the team, he has proved his worth already. 

DeVonta came to Alabama as a five-star Wide Receiver in the 2017 class. Smith was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, as had a great history as a receiver in school. It has been 8 years, Smith has seen it all changing, coached under Nick still happy with what Kalen has to bring in. He knows the kind of legacy that Nick left and the kind of strategies that Kalen can use to be calm and win and look out for Alabama.

The kind of hunger that Alabama as a team has is great. Kalen just needs to polish it a bit more and direct them and we will see them going places for sure!

Kalen’s style of approaching the players

Undoubtedly, Nick left Alabama at a great spot in the world of football, great fame comes with just your association with the team. Now imagine Kalen’s spot when he was judged at the very beginning. How he grew up from there and proved everyone wrong. The kind of players that Kalen brought into the picture is far from what people were expecting out of him. Talking about, Ryan Williams, one of the greatest wide receivers. One who has won the title of Gatorade Player of the Year twice in the state of Alabama and has also been reclassified from the class of 2025 to the class of 2024, securing a talent like him was not a joke, let’s just agree to it!

Kalen is always seen working out things in a smooth manner, the kind of pre-planning this man does is extraordinary. See his recruitment strategy that everyone is now praising him for? It revolves around three major principles: effort, frequent visits, and building relationships. A coach would understand what consistency and calmness means. If you lose your nerve during a rough phase you might get a setback which would be impossible to cover at times. Better be alert and go on thriving like Kalen is!