Kalen DeBoer knew the moment he accepted the head coaching job at Alabama that he would be walking into the most high-pressure position in college football. Replacing the legendary Nick Saban is a tall enough task, but DeBoer’s biggest challenge may not lie in filling Saban’s shoes. It may be in answering the one question that has loomed large over the Crimson Tide program since the moment Saban retired: Who is going to be the quarterback?
That question follows him everywhere. On the recruiting trail. In press conferences. In private conversations with boosters. And now, even on the golf course.
DeBoer was in the middle of a charity golf outing this spring, enjoying a few rare hours away from the grind of game film, recruiting, and weight room visits. But as he stepped up to the tee box, a fellow participant casually lobbed a question that has become all too familiar. “Coach,” the man asked, “so who’s your guy at quarterback?”
It was said with a smile, maybe even as a joke. But the truth is, the curiosity is real. DeBoer just nodded, chuckled, and gave his now-patented answer: “We’re still working through it. We’ve got a lot of talent in that room.”
Even the greens at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail can’t provide an escape. The quarterback question isn’t just a piece of football trivia in Tuscaloosa. It is the focal point of an entire fanbase’s anxiety and hope. After all, this is Alabama, a place where the standard is a national championship every year, and anything less is seen as a step backward. That kind of pressure intensifies when there is uncertainty under center.
For DeBoer, the situation is both a blessing and a burden. He inherits a quarterback room brimming with potential but lacking a clear-cut leader. Jalen Milroe, the returning starter, is an electrifying talent with a cannon arm and blazing speed. He led Alabama to the College Football Playoff last season, but his inconsistency and decision-making continue to raise concerns. Behind him is Ty Simpson, a gifted passer with a high football IQ, and five-star freshman Julian Sayin, the crown jewel of the 2024 recruiting class who has since transferred to Ohio State but remains a symbolic reminder of how much the quarterback spot matters in Tuscaloosa.
Even in the aftermath of Sayin’s departure, the question remains—and may even grow louder. Milroe might be the presumed leader because of his experience, but that doesn’t mean he has a stranglehold on the job. DeBoer has said publicly that he wants competition. He wants someone to step up and take the role definitively. And until that happens, the speculation won’t stop. Not from the media. Not from fans. And definitely not from the guy holding a 7-iron and looking to talk shop mid-round.
This situation would be tough for any coach, let alone someone stepping into the most high-profile role in the sport. But DeBoer has built his career on calm, confidence, and the ability to develop quarterbacks. He took Michael Penix Jr. from a talented but injury-prone player at Indiana to a Heisman Trophy finalist and national title contender at Washington. His track record with quarterbacks is what made him such an attractive candidate to follow Saban in the first place. Alabama saw him as someone who could not only keep the program afloat but also retool its offense and bring it into the next era of college football.
Yet for all of DeBoer’s success, Tuscaloosa is a different animal. At Washington, he had time to build, develop, and mold. At Alabama, time is a luxury he doesn’t have. Every game will be scrutinized. Every incomplete pass will prompt second-guessing. Every quarterback decision will be dissected, replayed, and debated.
That’s the nature of the job. And DeBoer accepts it.
He’s already made moves to get the position right. He brought in offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, a trusted colleague from Washington who understands DeBoer’s system and has worked closely with quarterbacks. The two are in lockstep when it comes to developing game plans and evaluating talent. But even their synergy doesn’t answer the lingering question: Is Milroe the guy? Can Simpson take the leap? Or is there still another twist coming, perhaps via the transfer portal?