Kalen DeBoer lists needed qualities in recruiting players to Alabama

One of the biggest challenges for new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer in keeping the program elevated at the heights Nick Saban had it at will be recruiting.

Saban was an absolutely hellacious recruiter, hauling in a handful of top-ranked classes and consistently producing top-three crops.

But there’s more to recruiting than just the stars. DeBoer will look to load up on those, but he wants to do so with the players that fit his rubric when it comes to building a sustainable, high-level program.

There are a few key factors he looks for.

“Toughness is always going to be something that I think is just critical, it doesn’t matter where you’re at,” Kalen DeBoer said on a recent episode of Bussin’ with the Boys. “I think the game was meant to be played that way. The championship teams have that mental toughness, that physical toughness that you have to have.”

Toughness is something that is a bit more quantifiable than some of the other things DeBoer and his staff scout for. For one, you can see how violent a player is on the field.

It’s easy enough to see a guy flying into tackles or holding his own in the trenches with good anchorability. It’s not quite as easy to identify traits like leadership. Or mental makeup.

“I think there’s also the discipline, accountability, along with just personality that kind of like a wide-eyed, just excited to learn, excited to grow,” DeBoer said. “Just feel like they haven’t arrived and that there’s not a ceiling that they’re looking at, and they’re far from it if they think there is. So it’s just a matter of growth mindset and guys who want to come in here and be a part of something, not just it’s all about me.”

Alabama currently has 10 commitments in its 2025 recruiting class, with nine of them four-star prospects and one of them a three-star. So there is room to add.

Kalen DeBoer will be certain any new takes fit the mold.

“We always talk about in terms of our non-negotiables being family, accountable and toughness,” he said. “So I think I hit on all three of those, and just doing it the right way. Doing it with class, integrity and while you’re here just making sure we get that degree as well.”