Naturally, the unexpected resignation of famous head coach Nick Saban—who became perhaps one of the greatest college football coaches of all time during his career with the program—led to DeBoer being named the next head coach of Alabama football earlier this offseason.
Avoiding serious injuries is the top priority during spring practices, but it looks like the Crimson Tide may be having trouble there when it was recently discovered that wide receiver Jalen Hale had suffered a leg injury during practice this week.
DeBoer himself verified recently that the wound seems serious.
An update on Jalen Hale reveals that he suffered a serious injury to his knee. According to Joe Gaither of Sports Illustrated, DeBoer stated, “He’ll be down for the spring, but some review will still take place to kind of determine out what that timeframe will be as far as the remainder of the year and so forth. Hale, a sophomore who is returning, seems to have suffered the injury on Tuesday during practice.
A revamped Alabama team
As was previously reported, Kalen DeBoer assumed the position in Tuscaloosa after the surprising departure of his predecessor, the illustrious Nick Saban. Saban has since intimated that a major factor in his decision was the recently established NIL rules, which permit players to fully profit off of the value they contribute.
In the meantime, DeBoer had just completed leading his previous squad, the Washington Huskies, to the National Championship game before leaving them in response to a request from the Alabama football team’s executive leadership.
DeBoer takes over an Alabama team that will be very different from the one he had the previous season, when it was unexpectedly eliminated by Michigan, the team that beat DeBoer’s Washington team after being controversially chosen to play in the College Football Playoffs despite Florida State having a superior record.
Jackson Stone · four days beforehand
While Isaiah Bond, who saved the Crimson Tide’s Iron Bowl against the Auburn Tigers with a miraculous last-second catch from Jalen Milroe, left for Texas via the transfer portal, Jermaine Burton, who was one of Alabama’s best receivers during the 2023 season but faded in their playoff loss, has since taken his talents to the NFL Draft.
Alabama is scheduled to play in the redesigned SEC schedule, so DeBoer’s abilities will be put to the test right away with his new squad.
The Georgia Bulldogs, who Alabama upset in the SEC Championship Game this year in what turned out to be Nick Saban’s final victory of his career, are among the notable opponents for the Crimson Tide in 2023.
Saban was seeking revenge for his loss to Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs in the 2022 National Championship Game.
Regardless of the extent of Hale’s injury, Alabama will require some of their younger receivers to step up.
