Jumbo Package: Kalen DeBoer continues to deal with portal exodus
Happy Friday, everyone. Sorry for the late JP, real life got in the way. As you already know, Alabama got a new QB commit, and lost one.
The 6-foot-6, 226 pounder heads to Alabama with four seasons of eligibility remaining after redshirting during his lone season at Washington. He did not see any playing time for the Huskies during their run to a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance.
Mack was a part of the 2024 cycle at first, but he later reclassified and graduated from Folsom High School in California an early year. Mack passed for 3,498 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2022, leading Folsom to a 12 win season and the CIF Sacramento Division 1 championship.
Since DeBoer assumed the position of coach on January 12, Mack is the first player to pledge to Alabama, whether as a transfer or a high school prospect.
The top-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2024, Julian Sayin of Alabama, is planning to use the NCAA transfer portal, sources told ESPN. According to sources, Sayin is anticipated to start the transfer procedure on Friday.
Sayin is the highest-ranked offensive player in the 2024 ESPN 300, as he is No. 3 overall and was one of the
standout players in Alabama’s recruiting class. Sayin registered early at Alabama, and the news of coach Nick Saban’s retirement was released on the same day he started courses earlier this month.
For what it’s worth, the employees at the Alabama locations of 247 and On3 appear to think that DeBoer took Mack even though he knew he would lose Sayin. Mack reclassified last year in order to sign with Washington, and it’s obvious that they think highly of his abilities. If they really did select him over Sayin, that might define their term, for better or worse.
I know nothing about Mack, but his high school stats are awesome and his highlights look good. I am especially
pleased with his 6’6″ height and rapid delivery. Those guys typically have lengthy windups, which might be problematic.
A Big 12 head coach predicted, “The teams Alabama steals players from after spring ball are the real ones being punished because they cannot replace those kids.” “It will be disastrous for us.”
Yes, this improvised system might have further unforeseen repercussions. Alternatively, it’s possible that coaches are too concerned and inventing issues that don’t even exist. In any case, only the most inventive coaches and the hungriest recruiters make it through. Saban was the best because of this. He was useful and led the sport for 17 years due to his inventiveness in exploiting weaknesses.
He adapted. He had foresight. He developed solutions for problems that did not yet exist.
Speaking of which, what is next?
“What happens to Michigan if [Jim Harbaugh] leaves?” one ACC head coach pondered. “We have messed up the sport and we’re teaching these kids the wrong thing.”
Yeah, it’s enough to make a coach go insane.
Or retire to Jupiter Island.
Excellent information about what Nick Saban meant to his players.
Kool-Aid McKinstry, a cornerback, observed that Saban jogged “everywhere he goes.” Every session began with Saban stretching with the players. Saban led the Tide out of the tunnel and onto the sideline each game day.
“Coach Saban is still somewhat of a child. He cracks jokes and such. His relationship with us. He seems to genuinely want to be a part of our team, listen to us more, and understand how we feel. He listens, like, really listens. Senior running back Jase McClellan stated, “He tells us stuff, then he listens to what we want from him, what we want to see.”
He is free to despise me and be as angry as he wants, but I have a job to do, and that won’t change. Whenever Saban was cooking, it was difficult for me to locate any criticism, try as I tried. Before writing about a loss, I covered nineteen games for Alabama. It was thrilling to try something new that afternoon in South Carolina in 2010.
As the plot didn’t really change from year to year, at times it was like covering the Mercedes production line. Benefits were present. Four journeys to New York to report on the Heisman awards. Finals games in New Orleans, Indianapolis, both coasts, and a few more locations.
That brings an end to our day. Enjoy your wonderful weekend.
Turn the tide.
