It’s been hard being an Alabama fan this year. From Nick Saban‘s exit to the massive amount of players that jumped ship, the team that dominated the league for the past decade is set to witness its days in the trenches. Unless, of course, Jalen Milroe commands the reins strongly and redeems the team’s reputation as one of the toughest teams that ever stepped foot on the green.

Back in January 2023, one of the darkest days for Alabama occurred. A land that is known for its warmth and the famous spirit of the South, had frowns all over when Nick Saban chose to throw in the white towel once and for all. Since then, Kalen DeBoer has been expected to step up and be respectful of the legacy that Saban left behind, which has been especially difficult to do ever since the mass exodus that the Alabama Crimson Tide witnessed. Amid all the doubts and concerns that the fans have for DeBoer, the fusion of both Kalen and Jalen’s capabilities could be a weapon that college football hasn’t seen to date.

The mix of Kalen-Jalen could awaken Alabama’s lost golden touch

On the 27th July episode of the Action Network show, Collin Wilson took to the mic to discuss the betting odds against Alabama this year and why the fans are greatly anticipating the union of Jalen Milroe and Kalen DeBoer’s abilities together. DeBoer showed immense offensive strategies during his time with the Huskies, and now, with the help of Jalen Milroe, who is one of the best quarterbacks this year, he could take Alabama to a whole new level.

Collin mentioned the exits of Seth McLaughlin and other players who left Alabama, but went on to highlight how DeBoer could bring about a whole new wave of change to the program with the help of Milroe. He said, “Seth McLaughlin is not there anymore, he struggled with snaps to Jalen Milroe all of last year. And guard, Damian George is also not on the offensive line after having poor grades for the last couple of years. The most exciting aspect of this offense is the marriage of quarterback Jalen Milroe’s arm with the Kalen DeBoer playbook. Jalen Milroe is elite in downfield passing.” Thus, Saban’s exit has definitely left a void within the team, but if DeBoer and Milroe are able to be the perfect combination that everyone thinks they are, they might just become a force to be reckoned with. With that being said, DeBoer will still face an obstacle in retaining most of the members of his team since so many of the players decided to turn on the men in Crimson and run the other way.

The mass withdrawal of players from Alabama after Saban’s exit

Kalen DeBoer was welcomed to the team with great pomp and celebration, but the insider reality was that the team was falling apart. With the king of Tuscaloosa choosing to quit coaching once and for all, the other subjects took it as a sign of cracks in the foundation and chose to make their fortune elsewhere. DeBoer did bring in a hefty number of new additions as well, but in the past 7 months, Alabama has lost more than it has gained.

The first player to call it quits from the team was Isaiah Bond. He transferred to Texas and has been a prized jewel in the team ever since his game-winning catch on 4th-and-31 in the Iron Bowl. Additionally, his relationship with Jalen Milroe would’ve landed him a role as a leading WR for DeBoer’s offense, but unfortunately, he made the decision to bid adieu to his team.

We can’t talk about the exodus without invoking the name of Caleb Downs. He was undoubtedly the biggest loss from the team and will always be remembered as one of the most successful one-year players to go all the way. Now, he will be showcasing his abilities under Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes, but Alabama won’t forget everything he did for Nick Saban and the team. Other players that left a dent in the team’s power with their departures were Kadyn Proctor, Julian Sayin, and Trey Amos, among many others.