Nick Saban Explains What Kalen DeBoer Will Experience In First Year At Alabama

During Saturday's "College GameDay" coverage from Dublin, Ireland, Nick Saban gave some insight into what new Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer will expect to experience in Tuscaloosa as he takes over for Saban this fall.

DeBoer, who took the Washington Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship game last season, assumes control of an Alabama team with a mixture of skilled returning players and transfers looking to continue the program's winning ways this fall.

When asked by Kirk Herbstreit what DeBoer should expect in his first season as head coach in Tuscaloosa, Saban replied by stating that the program still has the same culture he instilled the team with and that the Tide could be a challenge if the defense can continue to improve.

"Well, all I can tell you is that I went and watched last week's scrimmage on Saturday," Saban said.

"That team still has the same culture, you know, they had when I was the coach. They played with toughness. They played with great effort. They executed well. They got good discipline. So Kalen [DeBoer] has done a really good job. He's had to replace some players because so many guys transferred. But I really think Alabama, with Jalen Milroe, the two running backs that they have... I was worried about the defense. But I think the defense really impressed me in the scrimmage that they have come along. So if they can play the kind of defense, especially in the secondary, because they lost so many players in the secondary, they're going to be right up there challenging people."

The college football world will have to wait until Alabama's season opener on Aug. 31 to fully witness how Kalen DeBoer will fair in his first season with the Tide.

The No. 5-ranked Crimson Tide's season opener is against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers from Denny-Bryant Stadium on Aug. 31 at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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