Alabama Legend’s Nick Saban Revelation Confirms Kalen DeBoer’s Big Concern as HC Receives Tough Playoffs Verdict

Alabama isn’t playing the same game anymore. After being a factory for NFL talent for years, the Tide slipped slightly in 2025—”only” 7 players were drafted. But when the GOAT, Nick Saban, walked away, he didn’t just leave a coaching vacancy — he left a dynasty-sized shadow. Although Kalen DeBoer stepped in, his first season ended with a 9–4 record, snapping a legendary 16-year run of double-digit wins. However, the game has changed, too. NIL deals, transfer portal chaos — it’s a different battlefield now. What worked in Saban’s reign doesn’t guarantee survival today. Yet, Alabama is still standing, but make no mistake: the CFB world around them isn’t the same.

Nick Saban’s retirement in January 2024 was a shockwave through CFB. But the reason? The rise of NIL and shifting priorities pushed him out. His wife, Terry Saban, famously said in March 2024, “All they care about is how much you’re going to pay them. They don’t care about how you’re going to develop them, which is what we’ve always done, so why are we doing this?” Honestly, Saban’s old-school approach was no longer fitting the new era. But fast forward to today — there’s a different energy in Tuscaloosa. Under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama didn’t lose many players in the spring portal. In fact, they had the fewest departures in the entire SEC. So, it’s clear: these guys want to play for DeBoer. And that’s a huge win in today’s wild CFB world.

On the April 28th episode of Bama Tailgate, when Mike Gillispie asked former Alabama legend Baron Huber what Kalen DeBoer must do to be successful, Huber didn’t hesitate. He said, “I mean, roster retention is going to end up being the key analytic going forward in today’s time with the NIL and the transfer portal and everything else. You’re going to have to be able to, you know, keep the guys that are in-house, keep them in-house — and that’s a full-time job, man.” In the age of constant movement and big money deals, keeping your core intact could be the real difference between winning big and falling behind.

But here’s where things got even more real. Huber’s revelation about Nick Saban confirmed Kalen DeBoer’s biggest concern. Talking about the intense pressure of today’s recruiting world, Huber said, “You think about it, we probably jump on kids — I don’t know about the staff now — but, you know, Coach Saban was jumping on kids in eighth grade. Wow. You know, you figure that time all the way through high school, and then now, yeah, you’re going to have to recruit them every year, or you’re going to have to negotiate a contract every year.” So, in this new era, recruiting doesn’t stop — it’s a 24/7 battle to keep talent in-house.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Huber painted an even crazier picture of today’s college football reality. He said sometimes, after a big game, players might walk into the coach’s office the next day demanding a raise. “Or in some cases, you know, I’ve heard rumors where you may have to negotiate a contract after a game. You know, player makes a big play — oh god, pinnacle moment — comes into the office on Sunday: ‘Hey, I want a raise. Hey, I should be getting more. Hey, if I don’t get more, I don’t play the next Saturday,‘” explained Huber. So, in this new NIL-driven world, even one highlight reel moment could spark a contract standoff. And Nico Iamaleava from Tennessee could be a prime example of this new-age reality.

Simply put, in the new era of NIL, keeping a roster intact is a real challenge — even for Kalen DeBoer, who is considered a mastermind in the field. What was once done with pure intentions has turned into a high-stakes game, and as Huber puts it best, saying, “We’re probably living in a he-l in college football right now.” As of now, the burning question for Alabama is this: Can DeBoer guide the Tide back to national title contention this season, or will the new landscape hold them back?

A strong verdict on Kalen DeBoer’s playoff dream

This season, Alabama’s offense is primed for a breakout. The offensive line is fortified with the towering Kadyn Proctor holding down the tackle position and Parker Brailsford stepping in at center. These key returning blockers, paired with an elite receiving corps, could provide DeBoer with the perfect foundation as he enters the pressure-filled environment at Alabama. Adding to the strength of the staff is the strong bond between DeBoer, Ryan Grubb, and Nick Sheridan, making for a cohesive offensive unit. Hiring DeBoer — one of the sharpest minds in CFB — signals a bold shift from Saban’s defensive legacy. Now, with the right pieces in place, the burning question is, can this team finally rise to the occasion and claim a national title?

Alabama legend Baron Huber knows what it takes to win it all. He said, “Everybody wants to win a championship. This team is not ready to win a championship, but everybody wants to. That’s — that’s not the point. We all want it. But it takes a special group to actually get it done.” He went on to compare it to a recent experience, saying, “It’s kind of like the experience yesterday. There’s a million bars that could try to pull that off and couldn’t do it to the professionalism and the championship level that Florida did it.” Huber’s words serve as a reminder: a championship team isn’t just about desire — it’s about having that special group capable of executing when it matters most.

Here, the Alabama legend reflected on the challenges of building a championship team. “There are very few of us out there who can do that,” he said, acknowledging the historical strength of Alabama’s program. He pointed out the difficulties of guiding young players, noting, “None of us really listened at that age…but you hope that as they get older, they’ll see the value of the words that were said to them.” However, Huber reminisced about his own championship ring, focusing not on the glory but on the hard work and camaraderie behind it. “Anytime I look at my ring, I think of my teammates, what we did,” he shared. Right now, as Alabama eyes another playoff run, the question remains: Will this team, with all its potential, rise to the challenge like past championship squads?

Let’s see if Kalen DeBoer is able to make it this season or not.

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