Kalen DeBoer’s next duty is nearly completed. After navigating a recruiting maelstrom, Alabama’s new head football coach has yet to complete his first-year staff. Despite this, nearly all of his hires have publicly confirmed that they will be moving to, or staying in, Tuscaloosa. According to reports, another vital piece was added on Sunday.
According to various rumors, DeBoer will appoint Jatavis Sanders as his Director of Recruitment Strategy. Sanders arrives from North Carolina State, where he was appointed director of scouting in February 2022. Sanders was the Wolfpack’s backup quarterback in 1999 and 2000. Sanders’ LinkedIn profile shows that he has worked as a “recruiting specialist” for hundreds of athletes since 2009.
Sanders stopped at several Georgia high schools, including Norcross High in Gwinnett County. Sanders’ relationship-building paid off at NC State, where he helped put together the nation’s 28th-ranked class, the university’s second-best group since 2008.
It was previously speculated that DeBoer would try to bring Washington’s director of scouting, Jerret McElwain, back to Alabama, but it appears that DeBoer will be joined in Tuscaloosa by other familiar faces such as offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and general manager Courtney Morgan. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports was the first to reveal Sanders’ appointment.
“It’s certainly a special place, and coach Saban’s made it that way,” DeBoer said last week on “The Dan Patrick Show.” “And I think that piece of it was intriguing and exciting to me as I went through the process of looking to be the head coach, and he’s done an incredible job, as have others who have come before him. The legacy he leaves is undeniable, and continuing that tradition is my goal.
Meanwhile, Nick Saban’s remaining team members continued to look for new positions. Joe Cox, the tight ends coach at Ole Miss, will fill the same role under Lane Kiffin. Eric Wolford was also named offensive line coach at Kentucky, which he left two years ago to join Saban.
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