Kalen DeBoer discusses Alabama's post-Nick Saban retirement roster turnover: 'The core of our time is right here'

Kalen DeBoer knows what he has at Alabama and will continue to build with the core group of guys. The former Washington coach took over for the retired Nick Saban and knows there were plenty of players out the building before he even arrived.

But no matter, the goal is still the same and that’s winning a national championship. DeBoer was just there with Washington and could certainly get back there with a traditional powerhouse like the Crimson Tide.

Already, DeBoer and company are feeling the vibes at Alabama.

“Yeah, I think in a short amount of time, I think our staff has done an amazing job,” DeBoer said on The Pat McAfee Show. “Just really getting to know these guys. And you know, I think there’s 28 or so guys that think when you look at it from a whole piece, have entered the portal, but really about 18 to 20 of those guys were gone before we even had a chance to be here. 

“So you know, there’s a few other guys that I think were just kind of holding on and had other places to go. So you know, maybe there’s six to eight guys, maybe tops, that have entered so I think our staff’s done a phenomenal job.” 

DeBoer made sure to point out he and his staff were dealing with the guys that stuck around, not the ones that immediately decided on a change after Saban retired.

“As I said, most of those guys were were gone before we even had a chance and so it’s just the time and way of college athletics and especially college football, certainly understand that,” DeBoer said. “But we’ve had a chance to get around our guys and I think they’re really starting to feel the vibe and feel that we’re going to become excited about this journey with them.”

Kalen DeBoer ready to mold Alabama in his vision

DeBoer didn’t want to overhaul the roster nor change the traditions of Alabama. He’ll input his own style to a new era of Crimson Tide football, but he knows the meat and potatoes of his roster.

“And what’s really cool is these guys are, you know, they’re the heart and soul,” DeBoer said. “They’re the ones that are gonna bring this whole thing to life and you know, the guys who are with us right now, they just like sunk their teeth into another level. They’re hard at it with the workouts and it’s going extremely well. You know, checking in with Coach Blue, our strength coach, he’s just got them rolling. And, you know, for them, there was a little bit of time where there was some uncertainty and I think we’ve really kind of calmed things down and feeling good about the direction and what’s going to happen here this spring.”

Ultimately, it’s all about winning that final game of the season.

“But you know, the core of our core of our team is right here and they have a chip on their shoulder,” DeBoer said. “You know, they want to win that national championship. They had it right there in their grasp, and these guys already turned the page and moving on and excited about what our new staff is going to do building on what Coach Saban has done for many years here at Alabama.”