Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoer Breaks Down Second Spring Scrimmage

DeBoer discusses offensive line, quarterback reps, running backs, and more after the Crimson Tide's second spring practice scrimmage.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:20am

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A cubist-style painting depicting an abstract, fragmented scene of a college football scrimmage, with players, field, and equipment rendered in sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.Alabama's spring practice scrimmage showcases the team's offensive evolution under new head coach Kalen DeBoer.Fulton Today

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke to the media following the Crimson Tide's second spring practice scrimmage. DeBoer discussed the performance of the offensive line, the quarterback reps, the running backs, and the progress of the wide receiver room. He also provided updates on injured running back EJ Crowell and the competition at inside linebacker.

Why it matters

As Alabama continues its spring practice under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, these scrimmage sessions provide valuable insight into the development of the team's key position groups and players. DeBoer's comments offer a glimpse into the Tide's strengths, weaknesses, and areas of focus as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The details

DeBoer noted that the offensive line had some ups and downs, with the more experienced starters starting slow but then making progress, while the younger backups still have work to do on execution. At quarterback, the reps were split evenly, though DeBoer said the passers weren't as sharp as they have been. In the backfield, DeBoer praised the progress of running backs Kevin Riley, Daniel Hill, and Tre'Shawn, while providing an update on the injured EJ Crowell. The wide receiver room also drew positive reviews, with Noah Williams standing out as the most consistent performer.

  • Alabama will take the weekend off before returning to practice on Tuesday, April 7.
  • A-Day is scheduled for next Saturday, April 11, inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The players

Kalen DeBoer

The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

EJ Crowell

An Alabama running back who has not practiced since last week due to injury.

Kevin Riley

An Alabama running back who showed good burst and acceleration when hitting holes in the scrimmage.

Daniel Hill

An Alabama running back who had a good week of practice leading up to the scrimmage.

Tre'Shawn

An Alabama running back who displayed good instincts and the ability to pick up tough yards in short-yardage situations.

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What they’re saying

“Got 20 plus high school guys and then the transfers, the first time really stepping inside Bryant-Denny and getting a feel for that.”

— Kalen DeBoer, Head Coach

“I think there's ones and there's twos. I think there's differences in what their strengths are right now. A lot of it is the matchups they have in front of them.”

— Kalen DeBoer, Head Coach

“I would say today wasn't their sharpest day. A lot of it was what we were talking about with the offensive line. It was just getting in sync with guys, the reps that they have had a lot.”

— Kalen DeBoer, Head Coach

What’s next

Alabama will take the weekend off before returning to practice on Tuesday, April 7. A-Day is scheduled for next Saturday, April 11, inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The takeaway

DeBoer's comments highlight the ongoing development of Alabama's offense, with the offensive line and quarterback play still a work in progress as the team installs new schemes and systems. However, the head coach also praised the progress of the running backs and wide receivers, suggesting the Crimson Tide offense has the potential to be multi-dimensional in 2026.