The Kalen DeBoer era begins in Tuscaloosa as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Today's football game features the Tide's new coaching staff under DeBoer, after legendary head coach Nick Saban's retirement in January, 2024.
If Alabama takes care of business as expected in week one against Western Kentucky, the Tide should be able to rotate a lot of players in.
As the Kalen DeBoer era kicks off, it will be fascinating to see if Alabama can get deep into its depth chart. With lots of new faces on the roster including freshmen and transfers, this would be the fan base’s first opportunity to see many of these guys in live action.
Breakout Players To Watch
When the Crimson Tide has the ball, true freshman wide receiver Caleb Odom will be hard to miss. At 6’5”, the converted tight end brings a unique element to Bama’s receiver room. Odom could even get some first team snaps against WKU, but this position room is deep and he will likely get most of his reps with the second group.
Caleb Odom: A Red Zone Threat
Odom has proven capabilities as a jump-ball threat and could be a red zone target for the Tide. Look for the Bama quarterbacks to look his way when they get near the goal line.
On the other side of the ball, another super-athletic true freshman will have my eye in linebacker Justin Okoronkwo. A product of Germany, Okoronkwo has been impressive throughout the entire offseason. Though he had to acclimate to the American game and culture, he has adapted quickly and shown immense potential.
Justin Okoronkwo: A Future Star
Coach Nick Saban raved that he has 5-star abilities, and Okoronkwo has continued to make an impression on Kane Wommack and the new staff. He was very active in Alabama’s A-Day game, tallying a game-high 11 tackles.
While he is viewed by some as the future of Alabama’s linebacker room, Okoronkwo could make an impact in his very first game.
The DeBoer Era Begins
The Alabama Crimson Tide are currently ranked 5 out of 134 teams, according to our sister site CBS Sports. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are currently unranked out of 134 teams, according to CBS Sports. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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