NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

PASADENA, Calif. — Deontae Lawson finished his Alabama football career in the Rose Bowl.

The Crimson Tide linebacker’s final moments were in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Indiana, a game in which Alabama struggled and fell to the Hoosiers 38-3.

The fifth-year linebacker from Mobile fought off tears, reflecting on his time with the Crimson Tide and the changes that had come to Alabama during his career.

And the focus turned to Kalen DeBoer: the second-year Alabama coach who led the team to its first CFP victory since 2021, who’s led Alabama to 20 wins in 27 games across two seasons.

“Last year, when coach DeBoer came in, nobody really knew how to feel,” Lawson started. “You’re coming behind the greatest college coach of all time. No one really, especially the guys that had been there, we didn’t really know what to expect. To just watch him transform and basically elevate from last year to this year, (he) really put his print on the program and how the guys buy in.”

As Lawson started to talk about DeBoer’s impact, the emotions returned.

“Man, coach DeBoer is an excellent coach,” Lawson said. “He’s a true player coach. Man, coach DeBoer is a guy. His future here will be remembered, that’s all I can say. That’s all I can say… Man, he cares. He cares for us. He cares for us. He cares for his players. He cared to keep this program up like it’s been. Man, he’s always wanted to get better. So I know… like I said, his future will definitely be remembered here.”

Alabama opens the 2026 season Saturday, Sept. 5, against East Carolina.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Deontae Lawson fully supports Alabama football future with Kalen DeBoer

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

PASADENA, Calif. — Deontae Lawson finished his Alabama football career in the Rose Bowl.

The Crimson Tide linebacker’s final moments were in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Indiana, a game in which Alabama struggled and fell to the Hoosiers 38-3.

The fifth-year linebacker from Mobile fought off tears, reflecting on his time with the Crimson Tide and the changes that had come to Alabama during his career.

And the focus turned to Kalen DeBoer: the second-year Alabama coach who led the team to its first CFP victory since 2021, who’s led Alabama to 20 wins in 27 games across two seasons.

“Last year, when coach DeBoer came in, nobody really knew how to feel,” Lawson started. “You’re coming behind the greatest college coach of all time. No one really, especially the guys that had been there, we didn’t really know what to expect. To just watch him transform and basically elevate from last year to this year, (he) really put his print on the program and how the guys buy in.”

As Lawson started to talk about DeBoer’s impact, the emotions returned.

“Man, coach DeBoer is an excellent coach,” Lawson said. “He’s a true player coach. Man, coach DeBoer is a guy. His future here will be remembered, that’s all I can say. That’s all I can say… Man, he cares. He cares for us. He cares for us. He cares for his players. He cared to keep this program up like it’s been. Man, he’s always wanted to get better. So I know… like I said, his future will definitely be remembered here.”

Alabama opens the 2026 season Saturday, Sept. 5, against East Carolina.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Deontae Lawson fully supports Alabama football future with Kalen DeBoer

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos