Ryan Grubb helped Kalen DeBoer lead Washington to the 2024 National Championship Game, then, when DeBoer left Seattle for Tuscaloosa, Grubb, after flirting with the jump to the SEC, ultimately stayed behind to become the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. That failed experiment led him to a reunion with DeBoer this offseason, joining the Crimson Tide and bumping last year’s OC, Nick Sheridan, to QBs coach.
Sheridan’s demotion was one of the few major moves on Alabama’s staff after Year 1 of the DeBoer era, but it’s already paying dividends before Grubb’s offense ever takes the field in a meaningful football game.
As QB coach, Sheridan has been heavily involved in quarterback recruiting, and it seems that his slightly less arduous coaching schedule freed him up to take a trip to Nebraska that played a huge role in convincing four-star Jett Thomalla to flip from his Iowa State commitment.
Former Alabama OC Nick Sheridan landed 4-star QB Jett Thomalla
Despite adding five-star Keelon Russell to the program in the 2025 cycle, Alabama was still interested in adding a QB in the 2026 class, and rightfully so. With the freedom of movement that the transfer portal presents and a young five-star breathing down their necks, Ty Simpson and Austin Mack, who are competing with Russell for the starting job this summer, will both be transfer candidates next offseason. So, DeBoer needs a depth of young talent at the position if Russell eventually forces an exodus.
With such a tantalizing talent now in Tuscaloosa, it can be tough to sell 2026 recruits on coming to likely be a backup for at least the first two years of their career, if not more. Yet, even amidst Alabama’s slow start to the 2026 cycle, Sheridan was able to pry Thomalla away from Iowa State just in time for his impressive showing at the Elite 11 Finals in LA.
Recently, Thomalla spoke with Ryan Fowler, host of The Game with Ryan Fowler on Tide 100.9, and explained how Sheridan was able to convince him that Alabama was serious about bringing him to Tuscaloosa.
Thomalla recounted how Sheridan reached out and, ”he wanted to come and watch me throw," Thomalla said. "He actually got down [to Nebraska] pretty quickly after saying that, so that's when I noticed the interest was real.”
The 6-foot-4 Omaha, Nebraska product spoke about his time with Sheridan, and how quickly Alabama offered him after Sheridan watched him throw in person. Then, Thomalla revealed why Sheridan will be such an impactful recruiter for a big-time program like Alabama; he made Thomalla believe he belonged.
"Everyone was saying 'Oh, Alabama is such a bigger stage,' but coach Sheridan made me feel confidence in myself," Thomalla said. "Just our talks when I was there and over the phone, I can play there, and he thinks I can play there.
That’s a special skill, and maybe not something Sheridan would have had time for if he were still running the offensive side of the ball for DeBoer. Grubb is a more experienced play-caller, so his value will be apparent when Alabama’s season begins in Tallahassee on August 30, but his return to DeBoer’s staff is already paying dividends in less expected ways.