Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer once shared his recipe to recruit top talents at national level
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is under immense pressure after Week 8's 24-17 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers. The Crimson Tide (5-2) are in danger of missing the college football playoffs in their first season without retired coach Nick Saban.
Things weren't always so bleak for DeBoer and during a Sept. 2023 interview on the "Next Up" podcast with host Adam Breneman, DeBoer who was still the Washington Huskies coach, revealed his strategy to recruit and retain the top talents for his program at the national level.
"The West Coast is the footprint that has provided a lot of success for UW (University of Washington) in those championship years, those big years," DeBoer said (21:45).
"So, we kinda took that recipe but also, when there was a contact, when there was a connection or has been a connection out in the Midwest and a player we've identified that fits who we are, what we wanna be, those tie ins, we've gone after those kids. Especially at certain positions, ones that are maybe harder to get in the West Coast."
Kalen DeBoer thriving as a recruiter in Tuscaloosa
There were questions surrounding Kalen DeBoer and his recruiting pedigree when he succeeded retired Nick Saban. The Southeastern Conference is a different kettle of fish from the Pac-12, where DeBoer made a name for himself.
Five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams was among the first prospects to de-commit from the program after Nick Saban retired and DeBoer had to recruit Williams again in Tuscaloosa.
DeBoer showed his recruiting chops and, despite being behind in his recruitment drives, ended up getting the No. 2 national ranking in the class of 2025, according to On3. 17 of the 20 recruits were rated four-star and above with a large recruitment footprint spread across the country.
During the SEC media days, DeBoer revealed how he dealt with recruitment despite starting at a time disadvantage.
"I knew the intensity level that existed here in the SEC," DeBoer said. "And I think, across college football, it's just so competitive. There's got to be some familiarity with coaches to be able to get started and get off to a fast jump there, especially in these early months, because you're behind when you come in and it's the middle of January and you haven't even put a staff together.
"And all of a sudden, it's the end of January and you've got a week or two to hit the road. This is the last time you can be on the road other than a little time in May. And by that time, the official visits are all set up for June. We were behind."
The Alabama Crimson Tide might be going through rocky waters at the moment but Kalen DeBoer's recruitment efforts may help the Roll Tide in coming seasons.