Kalen DeBoer seems to like where Alabama football sits with spring practices approaching.

 

DeBoer joined “The Will Cain Show” on FOX News this week, and he gave his thoughts on the 2025 season and what it will take to contend for a national championship.

 

“We need to be that championship program,” DeBoer said. “That means you have to prepare at a championship level. Again, everything we’re doing, and this is the time you build your team, is in the offseason. Really proud of the way our guys continue to take everything we’ve learned, continued to grow. We’re a year into it now, and it just feels completely different.”

 

DeBoer mentioned how a year ago today, Alabama was still trying to fill multiple assistant coaching openings.

 

“We’re in a much better position,” DeBoer said.

 

But DeBoer noted that Alabama putting in the work remains paramount.

 

“I like where we’re headed,” DeBoer said.

 

 

 

The University of Alabama has granted exclusive, unrestricted access to the Crimson Tide football program for a new docuseries The Tides That Bind: Inside Alabama Football, premiering Feb. 19 on FOX Nation. This landmark series offers fans an inside, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant seasons in Alabama history.

 

The Tides That Bind captures the Crimson Tide’s first season following the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban, chronicling the team’s evolution under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. The docuseries provides an intimate look at the student-athletes, coaches and staff as they navigate a year of change, while honoring the tradition and relentless pursuit of excellence that defines Alabama football.

 

“Alabama football’s legacy is unparalleled, and this partnership allows fans to see what goes into wearing the crimson and white,” DeBoer said. “This is more than just a football story – it is a look at the passion and culture that surrounds this program. It also gives viewers a look inside the team and what we embody, including the discipline and resilience that define this program.”

 

From preseason workouts to the high-stakes moments of the 2024 season, The Tides That Bind brings viewers into the heart of Alabama football, capturing the passion and commitment that fuel the team’s continued success. Through exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes access, and never-before-seen footage, the series honors the rich tradition and future of the program.

 

“Alabama football is one of the most storied programs in all of sports, with a legacy of success that transcends any single player or era,” said director and producer John Henion. “Its winning tradition is built on a culture that has endured for generations. With the support of the Athletics Department and Coach DeBoer, we wanted to embrace present-tense storytelling while exploring the fundamental tenets that have made this program so successful.”

 

 

Alex Ward, a 2027 defensive back prospect from Marietta, Georgia, has committed to play football at Alabama.

Ward impressed Alabama coaches at a camp, even with a cast on his hand, and committed to the Crimson Tide during a game day visit.

Ward comes from a football family, with his older brother currently playing at Jackson State and another brother being a highly recruited receiver in the 2026 class.

His coaches believe he has the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks in the nation for his class, praising his maturity, athleticism, and football IQ.

Alex Ward only needed one hand to secure an Alabama football offer.

 

The 2027 Marietta, Georgia, defensive back had a torn tendon in his middle finger when he first camped in front of Alabama defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist in June. With a cast on one hand, and at times with that hand behind his back, Ward was still able to make a statement, even recording an interception during one-on-one drills.

 

That day was overwhelming, Ward remembered, getting an offer from the college football program he considered as a favorite even before his recruitment started.

 

“I was very happy, excited,” Ward told the Tuscaloosa News. “I cried when I got home.”

 

Months later, Ward was on the sideline at Bryant-Denny Stadium before Alabama faced Mercer, his first gameday experience. It felt like home, he said, and was enough for him to pull Linguist aside and commit to the Crimson Tide’s 2027 class on the spot.

 

“The opportunity felt like family just accepting me,” Ward said.

 

Ward knows what he is getting into when it comes to Alabama.

 

The Crimson Tide plays hard and is filled with “winners” and competitors. he said. Alabama knows how to develop its players, calling the program’s main goal to “get everybody to the next level.”

 

None of that is new to Ward. It’s the kind of football Ward had always known.

 

Alex Ward path to Alabama football

Mar 21, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama co-defensive coordinator Maurice Linguist directs players during practice at the University Alabama Thursday.

In the Ward family, college football is a rite of passage.

 

Alex Ward is the middle child. His oldest brother, Jace, plays linebacker for Jackson State. His older brother, Christian, is going through the recruiting process as a 2026 four-star receiver, holding offers from programs like Alabama, LSU and Georgia.

 

Alex Ward, like his brothers, was born with a football placed in his hands by his father, Jasen, who saw a future defensive back and wide receiver almost immediately with the good hands, the quick twitch and a strong, muscular build.

 

As his son grew, Jasen said, Alex became a student of football, one who studies the tendencies of each player he’s assigned to cover.

 

“I taught him things like, ‘Hey, first you got to be the best kid in the neighborhood. Then you got to be the best kid in your area. Then you work your way up to being the best kid in the region and in the country,’” Jasen Ward said. “So that’s just been kind of his path and goal, to show everybody that he’s the best at what he does, and he’s passionate about it. And that God’s kind of given him this gift to play football.”

 

By the time Alex Ward came to Walton High School, he oozed maturity, pairing length and athleticism with instinctiveness, IQ and a seriousness many high school football players did not share.

 

“A lot of kids that age can’t turn it on and turn it off,” Walton football recruiting coordinator Monty Bumper said. “He can actually turn it on and turn it off.”

 

Ward learned from the best, calling former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman his mentor. It was Norman who taught the 2027 prospect how important the mental side of football is, especially as a defensive back.

 

“Everybody would always think, ‘Oh you got to be the fastest, you got to be the strongest’ to get somewhere. … It’s really mental,” Ward said. “It’s the mental part of the game because the older you get, everybody (is) going to be fast, everybody (is) going to be strong. So you got to understand the mental part now so you’ll be ahead of everybody.”

 

Could Alex Ward be the “best cornerback’ in 2027 recruiting class?

Walton football coach Daniel Brunner views Ward as a prospect who is already ahead of everybody.

 

As a defensive back, Brunner said Ward doesn’t fit the reputation of being a wide receiver who “can’t catch.”

 

Ward, who plays both ways at Walton, can turn pass breakups into interceptions, someone Brunner considers as one of the best cover cornerbacks in the country.

 

“It’s nice to have him out there because you know that side of the field can be pretty much eliminated,” Brunner said. “He’s got a chance to be the best cornerback in the nation in his class. I truly believe that.”

 

Alabama believes that, with its coaches telling Brunner that the “sky’s the limit” for a prospect like Ward, someone who is “not even close” to what he could become at the next level.

 

For Ward, that development is where Linguist comes in.

 

“He’s a great DB coach,” Ward said. “He’s just honest with you up front. Not going to lie to you in your face. He’s going to push you and just tell you and ask you if you want to get here, what can I do to help you get there?”

 

That’s what football is to Ward: a stage where he can showcase his talent, to show who he is as a person both on and off the field. It’s why he chose to commit to Alabama so early, standing on the sideline with Linguist before the Mercer game.

 

Brunner shares Alabama’s excitement for what Ward has been able to do. And Brunner knows what Ward has the capability of doing with two seasons left at Walton.

 

“I just hope we can get him as far down this road as we possibly can before he gets to (Alabama),” Brunner said. “Because, if that’s the case, he can have a chance to play as a freshman.”

 

 

Touchdown Alabama
Alabama football’s freshman quarterback, Keelon Russell, is excited to have Ryan Grubb back in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator.

Grubb has officially returned to Tuscaloosa after a brief period with the Tide during Kalen DeBoer’s hiring and a year as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. He’s now back working under DeBoer, with whom he spent two years at Washington.

Russell believes this move will greatly benefit him and Alabama’s offense.

“What he did with Michael Penix, it’s legendary,” Russell said, according to ON3’s Nick Schultz. “I’m excited…the offense about to be unstoppable this year. We’re about to be great.”

The Crimson Tide have a quarterback competition underway, and Russell sees this as a chance to make an impact in his first year.

The five-star recruit is currently an early enrollee with the Tide and participating in Alabama’s off-season program.

 

(AP) TUSCALOOSA, AL Johni Broome had 19 points and 14 rebounds and five teammates scored in double figures as No. 1 Auburn beat in-state rival and second-ranked Alabama 94-85 on Saturday in a matchup of top-ranked teams.

Mark Sears scored 18 points and Grant Nelson added 12 points and 12 rebounds for Alabama, which rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but failed to complete the comeback.

Denver Jones scored 16 points, Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly added 15 points apiece, Chaney Johnson had 14 and Tahaad Pettiford 13 for Auburn (23-2, 11-1 Southeastern Conference).

Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway each scored 10 for Alabama (21-4, 10-2).

Auburn: Baker-Mazara, a vital bench player, fouled out with just over two minutes left, while Dylan Cardwell, the starter, fouled out after only 12 minutes of play.

After averaging 23 minutes per game, Johnson took up a lot of the load, playing 33 minutes.

Alabama: The Tigers were able to shoot 46% from the field thanks to the Crimson Tide. Against Alabama, the squad shot over 40% from the field for the first time in conference play.

 

 

 

 

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) receives a snapped ball against the Mercer Bears during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

There are some burning questions surrounding Alabama football ahead of the start of spring practice next month.

 

 

The Crimson Tide are looking to bounce back from an underwhelming 2024 football season.

 

Here is a look at some questions facing Alabama at the moment.

 

Who will be Alabama’s starting quarterback?

Alabama football has a quarterback battle which appears to be wide open ahead of spring practice. The lack of experience between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell points to each of them having an opportunity to be QB1 in Tuscaloosa next season. Simpson continues to be the favorite based on him being the Tide’s primary backup in 2024. He also has been a college quarterback for more years than Mack and Russell.

 

The spring typically gives a small snapshot of what the Tide could look like in the following season. Picking a starter in the spring is not likely to happen, but it should give a clear look at the peaking order of the competition.

 

Breaking Down ALL 3 Alabama QBs in One Video

Can Kalen DeBoer get Alabama to play consistent in Year 2?

Inconsistent is the perfect way to describe Alabama football in 2024. The Crimson Tide was inconsistent from week to week and inconsistent throughout the flows of some games. Alabama looked like the best team in college football at times. This would often take a turn, and the Tide would look undisciplined and unprepared. Consistency was one of the many strengths of the Nick Saban era. Can Kalen DeBoer capture a similar standard in this new era of college football?

 

Will Ryan Grubb improve Alabama football’s offense?

Alabama fans are excited to have Ryan Grubb back in Tuscaloosa, and it is no secret why. Grubb is bringing experience and proven production as a college offensive coordinator with him to Tuscaloosa. He has made it clear he wants the Tide to make defenses feel threatened by Alabama’s ability to move the football down the field.

 

“We should be able to push the ball down the field,” Grubb said. “We should be able to finish runs and block in an explosive manner that I think, will really show what we want this offense to look like from a standpoint that we want people to be threatened with the football down the field.”

 

He will be tasked with improving an Alabama offense that struggled and lacked creativity and consistency as the 2024 season progressed.

 

THIS Is Why Ryan Grubb Can Elevate Alabama’s Offense

Who takes over at kicker and punter?

The Crimson Tide graduated their starting kicker and punter from the 2024 season.

 

James Burnip was one of the top punters in college football in 2024. The Tide signed a punter in the 2025 class in Alex Asparuhov. They also have added Blake Doud to the fold. Doud is a transfer from the Colorado School of Mines. He was a consensus All-American in 2024, averaging 46.6 yards a punt while landing 19 inside the 20.

 

Graham Nicholson is moving on to the NFL after not seeing much action as the Tide’s starting kicker. Alabama returns Conor Talty. He handled all kickoff duties for Alabama in 2024. He has not attempted to kick a field goal in a game in his career, but he has made every extra point he has attempted.

 

 

 

 

Grubb arrives in Tuscaloosa with the chance to help Kalen DeBoer maintain the high level of success Alabama football has sustained for over a decade. As a seasoned college offensive coordinator, he aims to seize this opportunity by creating a dynamic and explosive offense.

“We should be able to stretch the field,” Grubb said. “We should finish runs and block with force in a way that showcases the offense we envision—one that makes defenses fear the ball being thrown downfield. We want teams to know that if they don’t play two-high (defense), and give us the chance, if they overload the box, we’ll take advantage with deep throws. On the other hand, when they deploy a shell coverage, respecting the passing game, we need to be able to dominate in the run game, and that’s a goal we definitely have.”

The Alabama fanbase will see Grubb’s take on the Tide’s offense for the first time this spring.

 

 

 

 

Nine former Alabama players were invited to this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, the league announced Thursday.

 

The Crimson Tide will be represented by quarterback Jalen Milroe, guard Tyler Booker, tight ends CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts, defensive lineman Tim Smith, outside linebacker Que Robinson, inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell, safety Malachi Moore and punter James Burnip. The Tide had two other draft-eligible players kicker Graham Nicholson and long snapper Kneeland Hibbett, who were not invited.

 

Booker and Campbell were both projected to be first-round picks in ESPN draft analyst Field Yates’ latest mock draft released this week. Milroe might have the most to gain out of any of Alabama’s combine invitees, as he’s been projected anywhere from the first round to mid-rounds.

 

National champion Ohio State had the most invites with 15, followed by Texas and Georgia with 14. Alabama also trailed Oregon (12 invites), Ole Miss (11), South Carolina (11) and Miami (10) in terms of players invited.

 

Alabama’s nine invites mark its lowest total since 2016 when it was also represented by nine players at the even. Last year, the Tide sent 10 players to the combine.

 

This year’s combine will be held in Indianapolis from February 27 to March 2. Alabama will also hold its Pro Day on Mark 26.The NFL draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin from April 24-26.