The No. 1 priority this offseason for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff was retooling the trenches on both sides of the ball. Blowout postseason losses to Georgia and Indiana pointed to one undeniable weakness that had to be addressed: Alabama had to get tougher, meaner, and more physical on both lines of scrimmage.
On the offensive side of the ball, that starts with the ground game. While DeBoer and company brought in 11 new faces on the offensive line, improving the in-line blocking from the TE room was also a priority. One of the most underrated losses from the 2024 roster was Robbie Ouzts, who was one of the best blocking tight ends in college football, which led to him being a 5th-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks and playing a role for the Super Bowl champs as a rookie.
Ouzts brought a mean streak and a tenacity to the position that Alabama didn't have a year ago.
Alabama identified that trait in Oklahoma State transfer Josh Ford, who was the Crimson Tide's first commitment out of the Transfer Portal in the last cycle. Without playing a down of football yet, Ford has already made a big impression that has earned praise from his head coach.
"We haven't played one down football yet this year, but I can tell you that his mindset, what he's done, he's come in and he's one guy that has helped just with the energy and us in the run game. Just getting after guys," DeBoer said in an appearance on the Martin Houston Show on Thursday.
"And I know some guys don't want me to hear that he's been putting guys on [their] back, because that's their own team that he's putting on [their] back, so then you got the argument the other way. But he did that in spring ball, and it becomes contagious, and that's what you got to have."
Josh Ford will be a massive difference maker for Alabama in 2026
The portal pick-up of Ford flew under the radar for Alabama fans in December. If you look at his stats, they aren't much to write home about. In 16 games at Oklahoma State, Ford caught 13 passes for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
But his receiving statistics are irrelevant to the impact he will have in Tuscaloosa.
Ford wasn't brought in to catch passes, though he will undoubtedly catch some. He was brought in as an upgrade to Alabama's in-line TE position. He was brought in to do exactly what he's been doing in team-led practices this summer: Put guys on their backs.
Alabama has to be a more physical football team in 2026. Every Tide fan with a pulse could tell you that. DeBoer's biggest criticism since coming to Alabama has been a finessee approach. Fair or unfair, that's the moniker southern football fans have always given to West Coast teams and coaches.
In that vein, it's encouraging that DeBoer has shown a willingness to adapt. He has clearly recognized that Alabama has to be meaner, tougher, angrier. He's taken steps to ensure that will happen next year.
Ford appears to be a huge part of those plans.
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