The Kalen DeBoer era officially began Friday night. Alabama’s newest head coach touched down at Tuscaloosa National Airport at 8:37 p.m. CT and was met by an anxious crowd of Crimson Tide fans. From there, he was escorted by Tuscaloosa police to the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility for a more important introduction — his first meeting with his new team.
Alabama released pictures of a smiling DeBoer talking to his new players. That meeting, as well as several more to follow over the next few days, will factor greatly toward the Tide’s roster retention as it looks to keep its stars in Tuscaloosa following the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban.
Per NCAA rules, Alabama players are given an extra 30-day transfer window due to the departure of a head coach. That could create an early headache for DeBoer. However, the rule could also benefit the first-year coach as well.
Due to DeBoer’s departure, Washington players are given the same 30-day transfer window. That could allow DeBoer to poach some of his former standouts to help rebuild his new roster at Alabama.
With at in mind, here are a few Huskies he could target.
Jabbar Muhammad | CB | Sr.
Muhammaed entered the transfer portal Friday, shortly after news broke of DeBoer’s hiring. The rising senior is a huge loss for the Huskies after he led the team with 16 pass deflections to go with three interceptions over 15 games last season. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound cornerback also recorded 46 tackles, including five for a loss with two sacks.
Muhammed, who began his career at Oklahoma State, could help fill one of the two starting spots vacated by projected first-round picks Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry at Alabama.
The Crimson Tide returns Trey Amos, who started one game while serving as the team’s third-string cornerback last season. It also brought in five-star Southern California transfer Domani Jackson at the position. Still, Alabama would likely find room for Muhammad should he elect to follow DeBoer to Tuscaloosa.
Mishael Powell | S | Sr.
Like Muhammad, Powell also entered the portal following news of DeBoer’s departure. The rising senior defensive back is coming off a big year and serves as a significant loss for Washington’s defense.
Powell started 13 games over 15 appearances last season, bouncing between the nickel and deep safety positions. He finished tied with Muhammad for the team lead with three interceptions, bringing one of them back 89 yards for a touchdown against Arizona State. He also tallied six pass breakups to go with 38 stops, including 2.5 tackles for a loss.
Powell, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, spent most of his snaps in the slot last season. If he were to man that position for Alabama this year, it would allow graduate defensive back Malachi Moore to drop back to deep safety alongside rising sophomore Caleb Downs.
Parker Brailsford | center | R-So.
Perhaps the biggest need on Alabama’s roster comes at the center position, where James Brockermeyer is the only returning option following the departures of starter Seth McLaughlin and backup Darrian Dalcourt.
Meanwhile, Washington returns rising redshirt sophomore Parker Brailsford, who earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors last season.
Brailsford started all 15 games for the Huskies, 12 at center and three at right guard. According to Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-2, 275-pound lineman recorded an 82.6 pass-blocking grade and an 80.8 run-blocking mark.
Unlike Muhammed and Powell, Brailsford has yet to enter his name in the transfer portal. However, with Alabama's glaring need at center and the majority of Washington’s difference makers departing, he could be tempted to rejoin his former head coach.
Will Rogers | quarterback | Gr.
Alabama’s quarterback room is crowded, even after the transfers of Tyler Buchner (Notre Dame lacrosse) and Eli Holstein (Pittsburgh).
The Crimson Tide returns a Heisman Trophy contender in Jalen Milroe, a capable backup in Ty Simpson, and a talented redshirt freshman in Dylan Lonergan. It also brought in five-star freshman Julian Sayin, the No. 4 overall player in this year’s class.
Still, DeBoer needs a passer he can trust to run his high-flying offense. Milroe was Alabama’s most electric player last season, but DeBoer’s attack hasn’t really featured a quarterback with his skill set in the past. While talented, the rest of the Tide’s options don’t offer much experience at the college level.
Could that prompt DeBoer to add to his options out of the portal?
DeBoer recruited former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers to Washington this offseason to be his starting quarterback. Friday, Rogers re-entered the portal following the news of a coaching change.
Rogers is coming off an underwhelming season last year, as he threw for 1,626 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions while limited to eight starts due to a shoulder injury. However, the Brandon, Mississippi native had plenty of success under the late Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, throwing for 10,689 yards and 82 touchdowns with 24 interceptions during his first three years with the Bulldogs.
Due to Alabama’s quarterback depth, Rogers' transfer to Tuscaloosa seems to be a bit of a longshot at the moment. That being said, it shouldn’t be ruled out completely.
Alabama released pictures of a smiling DeBoer talking to his new players. That meeting, as well as several more to follow over the next few days, will factor greatly toward the Tide’s roster retention as it looks to keep its stars in Tuscaloosa following the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban.
Per NCAA rules, Alabama players are given an extra 30-day transfer window due to the departure of a head coach. That could create an early headache for DeBoer. However, the rule could also benefit the first-year coach as well.
Due to DeBoer’s departure, Washington players are given the same 30-day transfer window. That could allow DeBoer to poach some of his former standouts to help rebuild his new roster at Alabama.
With at in mind, here are a few Huskies he could target.
Jabbar Muhammad | CB | Sr.
Muhammaed entered the transfer portal Friday, shortly after news broke of DeBoer’s hiring. The rising senior is a huge loss for the Huskies after he led the team with 16 pass deflections to go with three interceptions over 15 games last season. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound cornerback also recorded 46 tackles, including five for a loss with two sacks.
Muhammed, who began his career at Oklahoma State, could help fill one of the two starting spots vacated by projected first-round picks Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry at Alabama.
The Crimson Tide returns Trey Amos, who started one game while serving as the team’s third-string cornerback last season. It also brought in five-star Southern California transfer Domani Jackson at the position. Still, Alabama would likely find room for Muhammad should he elect to follow DeBoer to Tuscaloosa.
Mishael Powell | S | Sr.
Like Muhammad, Powell also entered the portal following news of DeBoer’s departure. The rising senior defensive back is coming off a big year and serves as a significant loss for Washington’s defense.
Powell started 13 games over 15 appearances last season, bouncing between the nickel and deep safety positions. He finished tied with Muhammad for the team lead with three interceptions, bringing one of them back 89 yards for a touchdown against Arizona State. He also tallied six pass breakups to go with 38 stops, including 2.5 tackles for a loss.
Powell, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, spent most of his snaps in the slot last season. If he were to man that position for Alabama this year, it would allow graduate defensive back Malachi Moore to drop back to deep safety alongside rising sophomore Caleb Downs.
Parker Brailsford | center | R-So.
Perhaps the biggest need on Alabama’s roster comes at the center position, where James Brockermeyer is the only returning option following the departures of starter Seth McLaughlin and backup Darrian Dalcourt.
Meanwhile, Washington returns rising redshirt sophomore Parker Brailsford, who earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors last season.
Brailsford started all 15 games for the Huskies, 12 at center and three at right guard. According to Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-2, 275-pound lineman recorded an 82.6 pass-blocking grade and an 80.8 run-blocking mark.
Unlike Muhammed and Powell, Brailsford has yet to enter his name in the transfer portal. However, with Alabama's glaring need at center and the majority of Washington’s difference makers departing, he could be tempted to rejoin his former head coach.
Will Rogers | quarterback | Gr.
Alabama’s quarterback room is crowded, even after the transfers of Tyler Buchner (Notre Dame lacrosse) and Eli Holstein (Pittsburgh).
The Crimson Tide returns a Heisman Trophy contender in Jalen Milroe, a capable backup in Ty Simpson, and a talented redshirt freshman in Dylan Lonergan. It also brought in five-star freshman Julian Sayin, the No. 4 overall player in this year’s class.
Still, DeBoer needs a passer he can trust to run his high-flying offense. Milroe was Alabama’s most electric player last season, but DeBoer’s attack hasn’t really featured a quarterback with his skill set in the past. While talented, the rest of the Tide’s options don’t offer much experience at the college level.
Could that prompt DeBoer to add to his options out of the portal?
DeBoer recruited former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers to Washington this offseason to be his starting quarterback. Friday, Rogers re-entered the portal following the news of a coaching change.
Rogers is coming off an underwhelming season last year, as he threw for 1,626 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions while limited to eight starts due to a shoulder injury. However, the Brandon, Mississippi native had plenty of success under the late Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, throwing for 10,689 yards and 82 touchdowns with 24 interceptions during his first three years with the Bulldogs.
Due to Alabama’s quarterback depth, Rogers' transfer to Tuscaloosa seems to be a bit of a longshot at the moment. That being said, it shouldn’t be ruled out completely.
