Malachi Moore dishes on transition with Kalen DeBoer, reveals his reaction to Nick Saban retirement

When Alabama concluded its 2023 season, the Crimson Tide players began to transition to the next season, intent on making another run to the College Football Playoff. They were still processing their overtime loss to Michigan in the semifinals.

Few had any idea what was to come.

Then one day, out of the blue, coach Nick Saban called a team meeting. Players wondered what it might be about, unsure what to expect. Saban was about to retire.

“I don’t think nobody really knew what was finna happen,” defensive back Malachi Moore said at Alabama’s Pro Day Wednesday on the SEC Network. “But by his speech you could kind of tell that it was kind of leaning that way. It was just a shock at first to everybody, but we were trying to tell everybody to have a calm head, like don’t make any rash decisions and let’s just see where everything is.

Luckily for the program, most players seemed to take that mantra to heart. There was no mass exodus of players into the NCAA transfer portal, though there were a few departures.

Alabama moved quickly, tapping Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, who had also just made a College Football Playoff appearance, to succeed Saban as head coach.

Since then DeBoer has worked to engender buy-in from his players. By the sound of things, he’s had a good deal of success. DeBoer said the transition is going well so far, aided in part by the fact that Saban remains close to the program and has been willing to offer a hand when needed.

For the players, the adjustments remain ongoing. There’s a whole lot to get used to.

“Just a lot of new changes. Coach Saban left a great legacy here, but coach DeBoer coming here and being man enough to come up here after coach Saban and kind of take on the job head on, it’s been really great,” Moore said. “He’s been bringing a lot of great new energy into the atmosphere and a lot of new ideas from just scheme wise with coach (Kane Wommack) and what we’re doing with having more vision on the quarterback and things like that. But it’s been fun.”

Alabama will get a more full idea of how well the transition goes come the fall. But the players that remained on campus seem to be pleased with their decision so far.

That’s a great sign for DeBoer as he seeks to replace a legend.