Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Alabama football’s head coach didn’t meet expectations. There’s plenty of places where a nine-win season and a bowl appearance would be cause for celebration under a new coach, but Tuscaloosa isn’t one of them, especially after Nick Saban’s tenure.

MOBILE, Ala. — Kalen DeBoer knows Alabama football has to be better. Standing outside of Hancock Whitney Stadium for the 2025 Senior Bowl, the Alabama football coach harkened back to his expectation for the Crimson Tide when he first took the job: to perform at a championship level.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer stopped by Hancock Whitney Stadium on Tuesday to watch the Crimson Tide contingent go through their first Senior Bowl practice. Prior to that, DeBoer spoke to reporters.

Ryan Williams won’t be 17 anymore when the 2025 Alabama football season begins. The Crimson Tide wide receiver, the most famous minor in college football during his true freshman year, will be facing enormous expectations as a sophomore, with a new quarterback and facing defenses that have plenty of tape on him.

Year 1 of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama ended with a disappointing finish. After missing out on the first-ever, 12-team College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide lost to a Michigan team that had several top players opt out,

Alabama’s defensive staff has made multiple moves this offseason, moving on from defensive backs coach Colin Hitschler, promoting analyst Chuck Morrell to inside linebackers coach, and most recently,

Jason Jones is now on staff for the Tide, helping coach defensive backs alongside Maurice Linguist, who largely focused on UA’s cornerbacks last season. He’s one of two additions to the staff, along with Chuck Morrell, who got a promotion to inside linebackers coach.

On Jan. 24, 2024, Saraland five-star wide receiver Ryan William s re-committed to Alabama football, initially ending his commitment after Nick Saban's retirement. One year later, Williams, per DeBoer, has developed into one of the leaders of the Crimson Tide wide receiver room before he's reached his 18th birthday.