By Mmesoma 
Just months after openly questioning whether Kalen DeBoer was the right man to lead Alabama football into the post-Nick Saban era, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has delivered a surprising — and glowing — endorsement.
Speaking on The Paul Finebaum Show this week, the longtime SEC insider compared DeBoer’s recent recruiting and leadership to the early dominance of Nick Saban himself, a stunning reversal from the skepticism that followed DeBoer’s hire in early 2024.
> “He’s proving everyone wrong — including me,” Finebaum admitted on air. “There’s a level of precision and focus in how he’s recruiting and building this team that feels very Saban-esque.”
From Doubt to Domination
When Alabama hired DeBoer away from Washington, the move was met with mixed reactions. Many fans and analysts — including Finebaum — questioned whether he could maintain the Tide’s national relevance, let alone follow in the footsteps of the most successful college coach in modern history.
But after securing a top-3 recruiting class in 2025, landing high-profile commitments early in 2026, and keeping Alabama in the playoff conversation, DeBoer has started to silence doubters.
> “He’s adapted fast to the pressure,” Finebaum said. “He knows what it takes to win here — and now he’s doing it.”
Reeling in Talent, Rewriting the Narrative
Under DeBoer’s leadership, Alabama has regained momentum in key recruiting battles, recently earning commitments from blue-chip quarterback Bryce Whitmore and four-star receiver Cederian Morgan. That success has drawn national attention and prompted Finebaum’s comparisons to the Saban standard.
“Look at what Alabama’s doing right now,” Finebaum continued. “They’re recruiting like Saban never left. That doesn’t just happen — it’s culture, it’s leadership, and right now, it’s DeBoer.”
A Long Way to Go — But a Strong Start
While DeBoer still has much to prove on the field — especially deep in SEC play — his early achievements have laid the foundation for what could become another era of dominance in Tuscaloosa.
Still, Finebaum noted, the comparisons come with a warning: “Let’s not crown him just yet. But the fact that we’re even having this conversation? That tells you how good he’s been.”
From hot-seat whispers to high-level comparisons, Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama tenure is off to a headline-making start — and even his harshest critics are beginning to believe.