Alabama Football Players Unbothered by DeBoer Coaching Rumors as Tide Prepares for Playoff Match With Oklahoma

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One of the biggest names circulating social media regarding the Michigan job is none other than Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, which doesn't come as a surprise. Not only has he been successful at Alabama, he name was also widely circulated earlier this year regarding the Penn State job. 

And despite the loud buzz surrounding DeBoer and the open Michigan job, the players made one thing clear: they aren’t letting it shake their focus.

Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams said DeBoer hasn’t talked much with the team about the rumors, and it hasn’t affected their mindset as they lock in for the Sooners.

"At the end of the day, he serves us 100 percent," Williams said. "That’s our coach, so we’re going to play for him. External noise is external noise, so at the end of the day, so we’re just focused on the internal voices.”

When asked if hearing those questions is difficult during a playoff run, Williams shut it down quickly: "Not really. We not really worried about it.”

DeBoer has already elevated the program back into the playoff conversation. After going 9-4 last season and narrowly missing the CFP, he now has Alabama back in the bracket. His track record speaks for itself: two seasons at Washington that ended with a national title appearance, and earlier success as Fresno State’s head coach.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Yhonzae Pierre echoed that the chatter hasn’t thrown off the team. He said it’s “not a distraction at all,” though the players certainly can’t avoid seeing the headlines.

Offensive lineman Wilkin Formby, who tries to stay off social media entirely, admitted even he hasn’t been able to avoid it.

"I’ve seen a couple things on social media," Formby said. "I try to stay off social media, but it’s everywhere. I heard stuff on social media, as far the truth to that, I don’t really see anything. He’s the same Coach DeBoer to me. We just had a great practice, and so I don’t really… I’m not too sure about all that.”

Friday marked Alabama’s first official CFP practice after a week of meetings. Linebacker Justin Jefferson said he isn’t plugged in to any rumors at all, staying fully locked in on what’s happening inside the building.

"I just know as far as what I see today and seeing in meetings," Jefferson said. "Shoot, we all in. Roll Tide. And we ready to go. We ready to go take it to Oklahoma."

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