The 2024 Alabama Football season ended badly for the Crimson Tide. The fourth loss stung, as did the losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, because Alabama played so poorly against Michigan.
Even if the judgment of Kalen DeBoer is too harsh by coming too soon, four losses in any Alabama football season is unacceptable. DeBoer will go into the 2025 season on a hot seat and the schedule is arguably tougher than last season.
If Kalen DeBoer is worried, there have been no outward signs. Instead he has appeared resolute. After the ReliaQuest Bowl, DeBoer and his staff intensified their efforts of building an improved roster for the 2025 season.
National media continued a tired refrain about the slippage of the Alabama Football program. Central to the theme are Transfer Portal exits. A total of 23 Alabama players have entered the Portal; 14 have already found new teams. The number is sure to grow, either soon as any last-minute entries become public, or during the April Portal cycle.
As of Jan. 6, the Alabama Crimson Tide had 79 scholarship players, including two or three possibly still considering NFL entry. At the least Kalen DeBoer has slots to add six more players. He will not fill all six quickly. A couple might be added soon, but the Alabama staff will keep April options open.
When the April transfer cycle is complete, perhaps in May, the average attrition on SEC rosters will be around 25 players. At worst, Alabama will not be way above the average. The process has quickly become the norm in roster building. What is often missed is that no more than four or five of Alabama's exiting players were expected to have two-deep roles next season. It is unlikely any of them would have earned starting roles. That does not mean they are talent-deficient. Many more than five of the exiting players can earn starting roles on new teams. But the Crimson Tide is at little or no loss without them.
Recently Josh Pate explained why Kalen DeBoer and Alabama Football are doing so well in roster building. Pate explains in detail in the video below, but the simple reason is roster building is not about what is lost, but what is gained. A return of a key player for another season is always a gain. Pate credits DeBoer for investing in current roster players instead of being too dependent on transfers.
One indicator I like about Bama moving forward pic.twitter.com/ev5AAtW3fu
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) January 6, 2025
2025 Alabama Football fueled by player retention
As DeBoer did last season, Alabama has added key transfers for the 2025 roster. Five incoming transfers will likely play starting or key backup roles in 2025. Because of player retention, that small number (and a few more later) works for DeBoer. On offense, Jam Miller, Ryan Williams, and Parker Brailsford bring more to the Crimson Tide than the highest-dollar transfer candidates. On defense, more key returners are also valuable: Deontae Lawson; Justin Jefferson; Keon Sabb; Domani Jackson; Zabien Brown; Bray Hubbard; LT Overton; Tim Keenan III; Qua Russaw; James Smith.
Forget about the player exits, DeBoer is doing such a good job on the '25 roster, Alabama will have one of the deepest, most experienced defenses in college football. A question mark remains at quarterback and another offensive tackle is needed, along with a few more additions to bolster less deep position groups, but the January look is the '25 roster will be better than 2024. Possibly; a good bit better.