Alabama

'Hope he realizes he's at Alabama:' HS coaches react to Kalen DeBoer news

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2024

'Hope he realizes he's at Alabama:' HS coaches react to Kalen DeBoer news

Veteran UMS-Wright coach Terry Curtis has some point-blank advice for new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer.

“I just hope he realizes he’s at Alabama,” said Curtis, who has won eight state titles at UMS. “It’s a whole different ballgame.”

The Crimson Tide is set to hire DeBoer, who led Washington to the national title game this season, to replace legendary coach Nick Saban, according to multiple reports. DeBoer was meeting with his players at Washington late Friday.

“I’m sure they did their due diligence,” Curtis said. “I don’t want to say anything bad, but undoubtedly, he wasn’t their No. 1 choice. But he’s been successful. I guess we will have to wait and find out who he hires.

“I’m sure he will need coach Saban to help him and kind of give him the lay of the land. To me, it’s just kind of surprising to go way out West to get a coach with no real background in this part of the country.”

Several prominent Alabama high school football coaches said they also were taking a wait-and-see attitude about DeBoer.

“I think Alabama fans have to trust the athletic director and the people who made the hire,” Thompson head coach Mark Freeman said. “Let the guy get here and prove himself and see who he puts around him. The alumni and the boosters have to get on board and support him and pray he keeps it going.”

Recruiting – whether from high school or in the transfer portal – is clearly the lifeline of college football success. Alabama’s final recruiting class under Saban is currently ranked second behind only SEC rival Georgia. It includes a pair of five-stars and 19 four-star recruits. Washington’s 2024 class ranks 36th, according to 247 sports. It includes seven four-star players and 16 commits total.

“The first thing he’ll need to do is get down here and get some coaches familiar with the SEC and the South and Alabama,” said new Hoover coach Drew Gilmer, who led Clay-Chalkville to two of the last three Class 6A state titles. “He will have to get in there and hold on to those kids they have and build relationships with them, and I’m sure he will.

“It will be interesting to see how fast he can pick up on things. It really all goes back to hiring good assistants and getting good recruits. His record on the field certainly speaks for itself.”

The top unsigned player in the country, Saraland 5-star wide receiver Ryan Williams, quickly decommitted from Alabama when Saban announced his retirement on Wednesday.

Alabama officials informed the AHSAA this week that, if a coach was hired in time, he would likely be at the Alabama Sports Writers Association Mr. Football banquet on Tuesday in Montgomery. Williams, who is visiting Texas A&M this weekend, is again a finalist for Class 6A Back of the Year.

“He’s got to get to work quickly and try to solidify the guys Alabama has and try to get some, like Ryan Williams, back if he can,” Curtis said. “If he can do that, it would obviously be big.”

Williams’ high school coach, Jeff Kelly, was intrigued by the hire.

“With him being out on the West Coast, I know we don’t hear a lot but, watching them play and the things they do offensively, it seems like he’s as good as anyone out there,” Kelly said. “It’s a fun brand of football to watch. I think he will be a guy who will stretch the field, and Alabama has been successful with that lately with Tua (Tagovailoa) and Jalen (Milroe) and other guys. I don’t know him, but I look forward to getting to know him.”

DeBoer grew up in South Dakota and has little or no background in the South. That likely will make the structure of his first staff at Alabama integral.

“On any staff, who you hire is important,” Hewitt-Trussville coach Josh Floyd said. “That is the case no matter where you are or what level you are on. He’ll need to have guys who know the South and know the landscape. That’s very important, but I do think Alabama sells itself. They have every resource available to recruit players and get coaches. He’s already starting way ahead of most people.”

Floyd said he was impressed by DeBoer’s ability to win at every level in which he has coached. Each coach agreed on one main thing.

“You have to live off recruiting,” Freeman said. “He has got to get to know kids as sophomores and juniors and build those relationships. He needs to hire some Alabama people. That’s the biggest thing – hire some guys who have been in the SEC, recruited in the SEC and know the background of Alabama. That is a must.”

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Alabama

Alabama offensive lineman transferring to Georgia Tech

Published

10 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Tech

Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.

Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)

A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.

Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.

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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Alabama

Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Kristin Nelson for House District 38

Published

22 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Kristin Nelson for House District 38

The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed Kristin Nelson in the upcoming special election for Alabama House District 38, a seat left vacant following the resignation of Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). The district includes portions of Chambers and Lee counties.

Nelson recently secured the Republican nomination after winning a runoff election. The special general election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3.

“Kristin Nelson is a well-respected community leader in Chambers County, and we are proud to endorse her,” said Jason McKay, president of the Chambers County Farmers Federation. “We know she will represent us well in Montgomery and ensure District 38 gets the attention it needs in the business and agricultural arenas.”

Support for Nelson’s candidacy also came from farmers in neighboring Lee County. “Kristin Nelson is a strong conservative with incredible knowledge of House District 38,” said Robert Walters, president of the Lee County Farmers Federation. “There is no doubt she will work hard and represent the people of Lee and Chambers counties well in the Legislature.”

Nelson grew up along the Chambers-Lee county line and brings experience from both the public and private sectors. Her background includes seven years in city administration with the City of Valley and three years as a third-grade teacher with Lanett City Schools.

She has also been active in homeschooling through Classical Conversations, where she has served as both a tutor and a local representative supporting other families.

In addition to returning to part-time work with Harris Gray LLC, Nelson serves as worship leader at Fairfax Methodist Church, secretary of the Junior Variety Club and president of the EAMC Lanier Auxiliary Board.

She also founded the Chambers County Young Republicans and currently serves as the chair of the Chambers County Republican Party.

“The farmers of this district and I share the same strong work ethic and conservative values,” said Nelson. “It is an honor to have their support and to be able to represent them and all the people of this district in Montgomery.”

Nelson and her husband, Jeff, live in the Huguley community with their two teenage sons.

The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization, representing more than 360,000 member families. The organization uses a grassroots endorsement process that relies on decisions made by county Farmers Federation boards of directors in local elections.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].

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Alabama

Tuberville officially files for 2026 Alabama governor’s race

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Tuberville officially files for 2026 Alabama governor’s race

HOOVER, Ala. (WSFA) – Senator Tommy Tuberville officially filed the paperwork to run for governor at the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters in Hoover Monday morning.

“I want to make the lives of the people of this state better,” said Sen. Tuberville. “If I thought that staying in the U.S. Senate would be best for Alabama, I would’ve stayed. but I think the best thing for Alabama is for me to come back.”

He talked about the need to grow Alabama’s economy, with attracting manufacturers being a primary focus. Sen. Tuberville said that to do that, he would focus on improving the state’s infrastructure and making the state’s education and workforce systems more attractive to new residents.

When asked about cutting waste, fraud and abuse, a focus of his time in Washington, D.C., alongside President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, Sen. Tuberville said, he expects to make changes if elected governor.

“You have a lot of different agencies here, we want to make them all better,” he said. “We also want to make sure that we save the taxpayers’ money, that we use it wisely and we give it back to them.”

The former Auburn football coach said he did not expect to go into politics, but now, he is ready to transition from national to state politics.

“It’s time to come home, put together a staff and worry about the state of Alabama and the people here,” he said.

According to Alabama’s constitution, someone running for governor has to have lived in the state for at least seven years. Some have questioned whether Sen. Tuberville fits that requirement. He said during the candidacy filing that the Republican Party of Alabama says he does fulfill the requirement.

The filing deadline for candidates to qualify for a major political party is Jan. 23.

Alabama’s Democratic primary has the following candidates: