Kalen DeBoer discusses value of bringing Washington transfers with him
Kalen DeBoer is bringing a completely new system down to Tuscaloosa with him from Seattle. Both with his offensive scheme and the hiring of defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. Alabama will still have some talented players but it will look a bit different than when Nick Saban was roaming the sidelines.
To potentially ease the transition process, DeBoer has brought some reinforcements with him from Washington. Not only were most of the offensive coaching staff part of last season’s Husky team but three players have followed DeBoer to Alabama via the NCAA transfer portal.
“Those that have come with us from Washington, there is certainly an understanding of the system,” DeBoer said. “What certain concepts are called and how we teach them. So, hopefully, back on campus, they are picking up on those things. Jalen (Milroe) with Austin (Mack) and having a center like Parker (Brailsford) there. Knows all of the calls and we can hit the ground running here next week when it comes to installing offense and defensive systems.”
Mack was the first-ever play to commit to DeBoer while at Alabama, coming seemingly out of nowhere. He had just wrapped up his true freshman season with Washington but still wanted to play his college football under DeBoer. The quarterback room will not be completely blind to the new system, with Mack helping out Milroe heading into spring practice.
Milroe will also work with a new center now that Seth McLaughlin is off to Ohio State. Brailsford has a chance to emerge as a leader of the offensive line after winning the Joe Moore Award last season. Getting on the same page quickly with Milroe will be critical.
You don’t need to tell an Alabama fan how crucial the relationship between a quarterback and his center is.
Even wide receiver Germie Bernard has an opportunity to hit the ground running. Bernard would have been a candidate to break out for Washington in 2024 has nothing changed, with their trio of pass catchers leaving for the NFL.
He will now be ahead of every skill position player at Alabama, hoping to make a serious impact.
Winter workouts and spring practice are all about install. Every team in the country will go through the process in the coming months. However, most programs will have the majority of their players just reviewing while the true freshmen are learning.
Alabama will have all but three players on the roster breaking in a whole new system. DeBoer and his coaching staff will be leading the charge but those three players can be a major influence to their teammates.