Alabama
Where Ryan Williams fits in Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer’s juggling act | Goodbread
It’s a relatively safe guess that Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne didn’t inquire whether Kalen DeBoer can juggle when he interviewed the new UA football coach.
Not in the literal sense, anyway.
But it won’t take long to know how well Alabama football’s new coach can handle multiple balls in the air. Assembling a coaching staff, recruiting, and retention of current players − who have three-plus more weeks to transfer freely due to the coaching change prompted by Nick Saban’s retirement − should be front and center on his to-do list.
House-hunting? For an Alabama coach hired in January, that’s for spring.
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The juggle for DeBoer, however, isn’t so much about how many balls he can keep in the air as it is about identifying the ones that would do the most damage if dropped. And on the roster front, that’s got to start with two names: Caleb Downs and Ryan Williams.
Downs, the dynamic freshman safety who was a staple in a very good Alabama secondary last season, should be DeBoer’s highest priority when it comes to retention. Not only because of his skill on the field, but because he’d be a potential leader in the locker room for more than one year to come. DeBoer needs both players and leaders right now. Downs has what it takes for both roles; Saban saw Downs as a future anchor in the locker room as well as on the field. And because he’s two years away from being eligible to declare for the NFL draft, he’s of greater value to the program than someone who could push the NFL draft button after next season.
That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of other important puzzle pieces on the retention front, but several have made it known they’re not going anywhere. Quarterback Jalen Milroe and offensive guard Tyler Booker intend to stay and play for DeBoer, and several other key players have indicated the same via social media. Others key players haven’t been heard from, including DT Jaheim Oatis. Nor has Downs made his intentions known, and he’s close with former Alabama defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, who will remain at Georgia after entertaining the possibility of returning to the Crimson Tide.
Securing Downs would be an enormous roster victory for DeBoer.
Then there’s Williams, the five-star wide receiver recruit from Saraland who understandably de-committed from Alabama following Saban’s retirement. Now, if one were to argue that a proven veteran other than Downs − say Oatis, for instance − should be a higher priority for DeBoer than any high school recruit, I get the logic. Even the most promising prep signees sometimes disappear into third-team status. Williams doesn’t come with a guarantee.
That said, he plays a position where freshmen tend to make a quick impact more often than any other position on the field. The list of freshman receivers who made a big splash at Alabama under Saban is a pretty long one. And in this case, Williams would be walking into the ideal situation for playing time: a wide receiver room in dire need of a talent infusion. Between the losses Jermaine Burton (NFL draft) and Isaiah Bond (transfer to Texas), the only receivers presumed returning with significant game experience are Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice.
That’s a pretty daunting prospect for a new head coach whose offense fired 574 passes last year. If Williams’ play indeed matches the hype, or even approaches it, he could be Crimson Tide’s most productive receiver immediately. And given the recruiting momentum that five-star signees can generate, signing Williams − National Signing Day is Feb. 7 − would be be a flag-planting of sorts for DeBoer and his staff.
Oh yeah, the staff.
Coaches still have to be hired. Coaches who would have a hand in convincing current players to stay and in recruiting new ones, too. Those are important balls in the air for DeBoer also, but with players making decisions about their future on a moment’s notice, he can’t afford to complete a full coaching staff before turning his attention to his roster.
And when it comes to that, there aren’t two more important parts of DeBoer’s juggle than Downs and Williams.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – The Kitchen Cops around north Alabama are not taking a break this holiday season. They were out, making their list and checking it twice, finding out who was naughty and who was nice. Two different businesses were actually shut down days before Christmas due to overwhelming problems that needed to be fixed right away before any more customers could be served.
DeKalb County
The first business to get on the naughty list this week was La Tienda Ideal in Albertville. This is actually a restaurant and a grocery store in one location, and they were scored separately.
The restaurant had a 64 due to roaches in the building, mold in the ice machine and mold on cooked meat in the cooler. There was also an issue with medication found near food items, no paper towels at one sink and several items in different coolers without date markings.
The La Tienda Ideal market was also inspected during this visit and got a higher, but still failing grade of 77. The roaches noted in the restaurant were present here as well. There was also a problem with chemicals not stored properly and one sink with no hot water. The roach issue was cited on the state website confirming La Tienda Ideal was closed until the issues were fixed.
Elsewhere in DeKalb County, the Fyffe Stop & Go on Main Street got an 83 due to mold in the soda nozzles.
DeKalb County Scores and Inspection Notes
Limestone County
The Krystal on Highway 72 near the I-65 interchange was shut down on December 22nd, due to “Inoperable toilets and sewage back up in the restrooms.” We called the phone number listed for this restaurant to confirm whether it has reopened, but the number redirected to another number, which was disconnected. We expect to learn more about this inspection next week.
On this week’s score sheet, there were no failing grades noted in Limestone County.
Madison County
The Burger King on Jeff Road in Harvest was given a 79 due to dirty storage containers, a blocked sink and broken fryer baskets.
Madison County Scores and Inspection Notes
Morgan County
The Citgo on Old Moulton Road has an 81 thanks to no soap at a sink and multiple food temperature violations.
Morgan County Scores and Inspection Notes
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Alabama defensive end LT Overton has accepted his invitation to the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl, game officials announced Friday.
Overton makes it seven Crimson Tide players confirmed for the Senior Bowl, which is set for Jan. 31 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. Wide receiver Germie Bernard, tight end Josh Cuevas, running back Jam Miller and linebackers Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson and defensive lineman Tim Keenan previously accepted invitations for the annual college football all-star game and NFL draft showcase.
Overton (6-foot-5, 278 pounds) has 20 tackles and four sacks in 12 games this season heading into the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl vs. Indiana. The Milton, Ga., native — who played his first two seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to Alabama in 2024 — sat out the SEC championship game and the College Football Playoff opener vs. Oklahoma for medical reasons, but has been cleared to return for the Rose Bowl.
In addition to the seven Alabama players, other players with in-state connections confirmed for the 2026 Senior Bowl include the Auburn duo of offensive lineman Jeremiah Wright and defensive end Keyron Crawford, Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter (Blount High School), Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker (Central Phenix City), Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams (Ramsay) and Louisville wide receiver/return specialist Caullin Lacy (Faith Academy).
Other notable players set to participate in Senior Bowl week are Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Baylor tight end Michael Trigg, Florida center Jake Slaughter, LSU wide receiver Barion Brown, Missouri defensive end Zion Young and Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, Texas safety Michael Taaffe and Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn, edge rusher Cashius Howell and cornerback Will Lee.
More players will be added to the 2026 Senior Bowl roster as game week approaches. A full listing of accepted invites can be found HERE.
The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Central on Jan. 31, with television coverage via NFL Network.
The Colorado Buffaloes’ offseason hasn’t gotten off to a great start, especially since the program has lost so much talent. It’s not just talent; the young core coach Deion Sanders has been building around for years to come has entered the transfer portal.
Five-star quarterback Julian Lewis is sticking with the program, standing out as one of the few true cornerstone players who have not entered the transfer portal. Meanwhile, impact names like wide receiver Omarion Miller and safety Tawfiq Byard have elected to move on.
The loss of four-star offensive lineman Carde Smith stands out as one of the most impactful, with the lineman entering the transfer portal last week.
Protecting Lewis must be a priority heading into next season, when he’s expected to be the full-time starter under Sanders and the Buffaloes. That task becomes more difficult when the program loses a top-250 recruit from last year’s class.
Given how the program is structured, player departures aren’t surprising. The current state of college football and NIL has made it difficult for programs like the Buffaloes to consistently retain talent, with more than half the roster entering the transfer portal.
Smith is among several departures, but his combination of size and physicality sets him apart and will attract plenty of attention.
Smith’s size and physicality give him immediate value in the transfer portal, especially at a position that’s increasingly difficult to fill. That combination makes several programs logical fits as potential landing spots as his recruitment begins to take shape.
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Why Carde Smith and Alabama Are a Transfer Portal Match Made in Heaven
There’s likely to be plenty of interest in Smith, especially after just finishing his redshirt freshman season. Coming from Mobile, Alabama, it’s easy to see why the idea of returning home to play for the Crimson Tide is so appealing.
With quarterback Ty Simpson expected to enter the NFL Draft this spring, the Keelon Russell era is set to begin next season. That transition brings an even bigger need for protection, especially with multiple linemen also leaving for the Draft.
That’s where Smith could make a difference. A four-star recruit, he can play both inside and outside on the offensive line, though he profiles more naturally as a guard.
Landing in Tuscaloosa would give him a chance to contribute immediately.
With his size, versatility, and experience, Smith could provide the stability Alabama’s offensive line needs while helping protect the next generation of elite talent. For a program losing key pieces up front, he might be exactly the type of player they’re looking for.
Carde Smith Could Find Immediate Opportunity at Ohio State
Ryan Day’s Buckeyes have leaned on the transfer portal for years, but developing a consistent offensive line has been a challenge, with many top linemen heading to the NFL. That need is only set to grow this offseason.
Smith is a natural fit for Ohio State and would be a strong cultural fit in Columbus.
Does that mean he’s guaranteed to land there? Of course not. But for a team that needs to protect Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, adding size and talent up front makes a lot of sense for Day and his staff.
If Smith decided to leave Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, it’s likely going to be for a program like Ohio State or Alabama. He’s not looking for a lateral move to a mid-tier program with a slight NIL upgrade.
At Ohio State, Smith could step in immediately and help shore up a line losing key pieces. With his size, talent, and versatility, few programs offer the combination of opportunity, exposure, and competitive environment that the Buckeyes can provide.
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