Former Washington defensive back Dom Hampton believes that Alabama football players have yet to fully embrace head coach Kalen DeBoer’s philosophy in Tuscaloosa.
Hampton, who played under DeBoer at Washington in 2022 and 2023, was a key starter for the Huskies when they reached the National Championship game. Now, as DeBoer leads Alabama, Hampton feels the Crimson Tide players must buy into DeBoer’s system to achieve success.
Speaking on the “Bring the Juice” podcast, Hampton emphasized the importance of team unity and culture. “It’s about buying into what the coach is preaching; that’s true at every level of football,” he said. “You need a brotherhood or culture. If you don’t have it, you’re going to lose. Once things get tough, it’s over.”
Hampton also highlighted DeBoer’s effectiveness in creating explosive passing offenses. “His superpower is getting someone wide open,” Hampton explained. “But at the end of the day, the quarterback still has to make the throw, read the defense, and the offensive line has to block. The other receivers have to run their routes to create distractions. It all comes down to whether everyone wants to buy in. You need to run your route hard to help your teammate get open. At Alabama, they might not have that mindset. They might think Ryan Williams is the guy who doesn’t need help getting open. But at Washington, every player was committed to doing their part to ensure the success of the play.”
In DeBoer’s first year at Alabama, the team finished with a 9-4 record. Hampton’s comments underscore the necessity for Alabama’s players to fully invest in DeBoer’s coaching if they want to build a championship-caliber team.
