Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer found himself on the hot seat after the No. 9 Crimson Tide were blown out by the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl to end the season with an 11-4 record. The Crimson Tide coach suffered blowout losses to both the Hoosiers and the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship game.
On Sunday, DeBoer was dealt a further blow when wide receiver target Cam Coleman committed to the Texas Longhorns after reportedly being paid $3.5 million, a figure that blew the Crimson Tide out of the water.
Why Did One Analyst Blast Kalen DeBoer After the $3.5 Cam Coleman Debacle?
Coleman tallied five touchdowns on 708 receiving yards for the Auburn Tigers, earning him a PFSN CFB WR Impact score of 75.2. Former Auburn wide receivers coach Derrick Nix being hired by DeBoer at Alabama was thought to be an advantage for the Crimson Tide before the Longhorns swooped in and secured Coleman’s commitment.
During Sunday’s segment of the “Ruffino & Joe Show,” analyst Blake Ruffino blasted DeBoer and the Crimson Tide for not paying up for Coleman’s commitment.
MORE: Former Alabama LB Warns Crimson Tide Fans As Program Suffers Transfer Portal Setback
“I know a lot of people are freaking out about Alabama right now and what’s going on in the portal,” Ruffino said. “What has Bama done? Nothing. The only thing that you’ve done of significance is not signing Keelon Russell, you’ve signed an extension to, it was Austin Mack.
“You should not have gotten to this Cam Coleman sweepstakes if you weren’t willing to give a wide receiver $3.5 million, because now you’ve got egg on your face. If you’re not gonna spend, you’re not gonna win. Let me tell you something Saban wouldn’t do. He’s not gonna lose a kid over money, are you stupid? I think it’s foolish by DeBoer by the way.”
DeBoer’s wide receiver room has been decimated by standout Germie Bernard declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, while Isaiah Horton entered the transfer portal and committed to SEC rival Texas A&M.
DeBoer Receives Nick Saban Backing
During last week’s segment of the “Pat McAfee” show, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban backed DeBoer’s appointment as his successor in Tuscaloosa, despite the Crimson Tide’s blowout losses in the biggest games this season and the general gloom around his tenure so far.
“I think if somebody was available I’m not sure anybody was available that they could have maybe gotten to come here,” Saban said.
MORE: ‘Bama Fans Are About to Cry’– CFB World Reacts As Cam Coleman Makes Texas Decision
“And I do think that Kalen DeBoer is a really good coach and doing a good job here. This is a tough transition, especially in this environment that we live in, in college football in terms of players coming and going.”
DeBoer is facing immense pressure and potentially losing quarterback Ty Simpson to other college football programs, despite his declaration for the NFL Draft would be a huge blow to his project in Tuscaloosa.
