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Kalen DeBoer explains roles for Ryan Grubb, Nick Sheridan on Alabama offense

On3 imageby: Sam Gillenwater03/03/25samdg_33
Alabama OC Ryan Grubb, QBC Nick Sheridan
Joe Nicholson & Gary Cosby Jr. | Imagn Images

Alabama reshuffled their offensive staff with their hire of OC Ryan Grubb. Still, Nick Sheridan will have an offensive role as well on the sidelines for the Crimson Tide.

While speaking to the media on Monday following the first spring practice for ‘Bama, Kalen DeBoer differentiated between Grubb’s overall work and Sheridan’s with their quarterbacks. That started by noting that Grabb naturally will work with the quarterbacks as their offensive coordinator.

“Uh, well, I think, uh, Coach Grubb will always still be involved with the quarterbacks,” said DeBoer. “I just am a strong believe that your play caller has to be around the quarterbacks.”

However, with his resumé on the offensive line, Grubb will have his focus there as well alongside Chris Kapilovic. He can see the unit as a whole from there, including what Sheridan is doing as his co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“On your note, you’re very right. There’s – it allows him to just do what you want a coordinator to do. That’s oversee every position and he certainly has a lot of history and background with the offensive line,” said DeBoer. “I think there’s, there’s eyes that start in certain spots when you’re a coordinator beyond just the quarterback. And I think, a lot of times, his eyes? Yeah, he can see it all, he can see them line up on the perimeter but he also really is feeling and seeing and has an intuition on what’s going on up front with the offensive line. So, you know, that’s really good with he and Coach Kap.”

After initially coming with DeBoer to Tuscaloosa, Grubb was hired again last month to the staff at Alabama. He has worked with DeBoer on several staffs at four programs with multiple roles as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and offensive line coach.

With Grubb spending last season in the NFL, though, Sheridan was promoted to offensive coordinator. His work saw the Crimson Tide post 33.8 points, good for 22nd nationally, and 410.2 yards per game.

Now, back under DeBoer, Grubb is going to be involved in a lot of ways offensively at ‘Bama. With that, it sounds as though that effect as their new coordinator will start more inside out from the line to quarterback and then so on.