Former Washington star Dominique Hampton recently weighed in on Alabama’s struggles under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, suggesting that the Crimson Tide players haven’t fully bought into his coaching style yet. Following Nick Saban’s retirement in 2023, DeBoer, who had a strong coaching record at Fresno State and Washington, was hired to take over at Alabama. However, while Alabama’s season isn’t a disaster—sitting at 6-2— it hasn’t lived up to the high expectations set by Saban’s legacy, with frustrations brewing over DeBoer’s laid-back approach, player attitudes during games, and even his choice of attire.
Hampton, who played at Washington from 2018 to 2023 and now plays for the Washington Commanders, shared his thoughts on “Brings The Juice” podcast, explaining how he and his teammates at Washington quickly embraced DeBoer’s vision after a tough 4-8 season prior to his arrival. “We were doo-doo before he got there,” Hampton said, adding that the Huskies were eager to buy into DeBoer’s leadership because they were desperate for a turnaround. However, Hampton feels that Alabama’s players haven’t fully embraced DeBoer in the same way. “They haven’t bought into every word DeBoer has said, and I can just tell by how they play—they’re still playing like individuals,” he remarked.
Nick Saban
Despite a shaky start with losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee in October, Alabama bounced back with a dominant 34-0 win over No. 21 Missouri. The victory helped stabilize the season and gave hope that things might be trending in the right direction. DeBoer has maintained a calm, confident demeanor throughout the season, signaling that he remains unfazed by the bumps along the way. Still, it’s clear that Alabama’s players need more on-field success to fully buy into his system.
Looking ahead, Alabama, now ranked No. 11, will face No. 15 LSU this Saturday in a crucial matchup that could decide the playoff fate of both teams. It will be telling to see if DeBoer’s players have fully embraced his approach and whether they can rise to the occasion in this pivotal game.
