One Tuscaloosa-based publication celebrated Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer's knowledge of championship-level football.

When Kalen DeBoer was introduced as Alabama football’s head coach one year ago, he did not make specific proclamations about his first season.

DeBoer and the Tide just missed out on the College Football Playoff and closed the year with a bummer of a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. In the meantime, DeBoer has been trying to stem losses via the transfer portal while trying to bring in his own transfers and build his recruiting classes.

Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer has lost the narrative surrounding his Crimson Tide in the Yellowhammer State.

Ray Perkins, who started with an 8-4 record in 1983, led the Crimson Tide to a 5-6 record in 1984 with losses to Boston College, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU. Alabama entered the season No. 9 in the AP poll, and finished the season unranked.

Let’s take a look at answering that question by handing out some grades for Alabama football in year No. 1 under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Alabama starts the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Florida State. The Tide also host Wisconsin during nonconference play before getting their SEC season underway. It’ll be important for DeBoer to get off to a hot start in those games to keep the heat off of him.