Kalen DeBoer lands top target to replace Chris Kapilovic as Alabama's OL coach

Just 24 hours after On3's Pete Nakos reported that USC analyst - and former New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers assistant, Adrian Klemm was the top target for Kalen DeBoer to be Alabama's new offensive line coach, it appears that the hire is close to being official.

According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, as well as Alabama beat writer Alex Scarborough and USC beat writer Connor Morrissette, the Crimson Tide is expected to hire Klemm to replace Chris Kapilovic, who was let go on Friday.

Alabama is expected to hire Adrian Klemm as OL coach

Klemm spent the last season as an analyst on USC's staff, but he has extensive experience as an OL coach on his resume. He has worked for Super Bowl-winning head coaches Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin in stints as OL coach for the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.

During his time with the Steelers, he coached an offensive line in 2020 that led the NFL in fewest sacks allowed. Pittsburgh allowed only 14 sacks that season, seven fewer than any other team in the league.

During his time in the college ranks, Klemm has coached at SMU, UCLA, and Oregon. In 2022, as the OL coach of the Ducks, Klemm led an offensive line that allowed only five sacks the entire season, a mark that led the nation.

Klemm also held the title of "Run Game Coordinator" during his time at Oregon and UCLA.

Klemm played college football at Hawaii and then spent six seasons in the NFL, five of which came with the Patriots. He was part of three Super Bowl-winning teams during his playing days in New England.

Klemm will replace Kapilovic, who spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa coaching offensive lines that underwhelmed, given the talent at his disposal.

DeBoer and GM Courtney Morgan have completely flipped the roster up front, and Klemm will be tasked with getting an inexperienced yet talented group up to speed quickly.