Grading Kalen DeBoer's first season as head coach at Alabama – Roll Tide Wire

When the close struck 0:00 at Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Eve, not only did it mark the end of the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines, but it also officially concluded the 2024 season overall for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
With this, it means that year one of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama officially ended as well, and when taking an overall look back at what was, it was certainly a season full of up’s-and-down’s in Tuscaloosa.
In all, Alabama finished with their worst overall record since 2007 at 9-4, which included a trio of losses on the road at Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, as well as the bowl defeat to Michigan. Alabama however also picked up one of college football’s top wins this season over Georgia at home, as well as routed LSU in Baton Rouge in a dominant performance.
However, just how would you grade this season by DeBoer and Alabama? Yes, we know how the on-field product looked, but what year one in other areas?
Let’s take a look at answering that question by handing out some grades for Alabama football in year No. 1 under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Will McLelland-Imagn Images
Grade: B-
While there were certainly some struggles down the stretch this season, especially when it came to road games, the numbers offensively for Alabama this season overall were not terrible, making this grade a B-. Yes, there was certainly a lot of room for improvement, but with it having been year one of a new system, Alabama still ranked No. 24 nationally with an average of 33.8 points per game in all, as well as fourth in the SEC.

Will McLelland-Imagn Images
Grade: A-
Similar to the offense, Alabama’s defensive unit also saw some struggles at times throughout the year, but when comparing the two, defense receives the higher grade of an A-. While still some room for improvement in year one of a new system, Alabama had a Top 10 scoring defense in the country that ranked No. 9 nationally at only 17.4 points per game allowed even despite some key injuries, as well as fourth in the SEC.

CHRIS LACHALL/USA TODAY NETWORK ATLANTIC GROUP-USA TODAY NETWORK
Grade: A+
While it has only been one full cycle, the recruiting at the high school level has not skipped a beat for Alabama going from Nick Saban to DeBoer. His first complete cycle at Alabama, DeBoer has the Crimson Tide’s 2025 recruiting class ranking No. 2 in the nation with 22 total commitments, as well as three five-star prospects.

Will McLelland-Imagn Images
Grade: A
When taking a look at DeBoer’s first transfer portal class from prior to the 2024 season, there are a few reasons as to why Alabama gets an “A” here. DeBoer was able to bring in multiple players that made big impacts in 2024 such as Kadyn Proctor, Parker Brailsford, Germie Bernard, LT Overton, Keon Sabb, Domani Jackson, and Graham Nicholson, and appear set to do exactly the same this offseason.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Grade: B+
Overall, DeBoer receives a grade of B+ for his first season at Alabama. While the record of 9-4 was Alabama’s worst since year one of the Saban era, DeBoer still had one of the best first seasons of any coach in program history, and combining that with the level of recruiting at both the high school ranks and transfer portal, the Crimson Tide are set up to have success in 2025 and beyond.
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