Kalen DeBoer joined Alabama in 2024 and ended his first season with the Tide with a 9-4 record. Not quite apt with Bama’s standards, but given it was his first season, he could be given some leeway. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t things looking quite optimistic in their 2024 season. For example, their defense was probably the only department giving returns after some hiccups in the early part of the season.
This is also evident from the fact that Alabama ranked 9th nationally in points conceded per game (18.3). Furthermore, they also limited opponents’ yards per play to just 4.6, which placed them 10th nationally. Though their rushing defense was a bit sketchy as they are ranked 97th, still, in all, they came out strong in their defensive departments. This wouldn’t be possible without their new defensive coordinator, Kane Wommack.
This is the guy who joined Alabama with very low expectations and media coverage, considering he was stepping onto a team as big as Alabama. Also, Nick Saban’s legacy and the standards set by him also didn’t help him. But now that he has delivered, there is much more anticipation about the next season. However, there’s still a huge concern Wommack thinks Alabama faces going into the new season.
Kane Wommack, in his recent statements, highlighted the concern that is there in the interior defensive line. “I don’t know if I ever feel like I have enough depth on the interior,” Wommack said following practice. “But it’s certainly an area that I think, from a defensive standpoint, it’s probably one of our biggest areas of depth concern. Development is the best recipe for that, but certainly, we’ll make sure we address those needs in any way we need to before the season.”
Sure, this is one area where Alabama is looking weak. Though they have some decent options in the pipeline in the likes of Edric Hill, who is a redshirt freshman, Isaia Faga, and Jeremiah Beaman, also a redshirt freshman. They also have some of the best defensive linemen from the previous season returning after parking their NFL dreams for one more year. Those would be players like Tim Keenan III, Deontae Lawson, Domani Jackson, and Justin Jefferson. So, where’s the problem?
Chris Daughtery of Alabama Football Report highlighted the need for transfer portal additions in the spring for Alabama. “You see, really, they’re going out, and they’re really trying to recruit that area hard; so really, to me, that means they’re going to go out in that spring transfer portal window, and they’re going to try to add at least one other interior defensive lineman, I think.” The transfer portal additions are also needed because, currently, they only have two freshman DLs coming in on their 2025 roster. Those being 4-star Steve Mboumoua (not a freshman) and London Simmons (3-star).
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Alabama will open their 2025 season against FSU on the road, which could be the cakewalk they would want, considering FSU’s last year’s blunders. Their only tough games are against Georgia on the road, Tennessee, and LSU. However, they would have to be wary of Vanderbilt, too, since they are one of the teams they can’t take lightly now. The verdict?
Well, Kalen DeBoer has a lot to do in the next season. But all eyes will be on Keelon Russel, who is touted as the next big thing for Alabama going into the season. He is someone who has held a perfect 100 rating for some time now and also had world-class exploits in his high school years. He will be looking actively to take the place of Ty Simpson over the season, as we also haven’t seen the best of Ty Simpson yet at Alabama due to his scarce appearances.
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