When Kalen DeBoer got his old pal Ryan Grubb to Tuscaloosa, it was expected there would be some fireworks in the offense. It didn’t, of course, show initially, as the loss against FSU in Week 1 piled on Kalen DeBoer’s misery, continuing from the 2024 season. However, when Alabama went to Athens for their Week 5 game, the Batman and Robin duo vowed redemption, putting in a masterclass. The 24-21 win silenced the 93,033-strong crowd in Sanford Stadium, and the plays were loaded with creativity and innovation. One such stance showed in OT Kadyn Proctor’s 11-yard running first down, as he now details what went behind the scenes, involving Ryan Williams‘ guidance.
In the second quarter, with 2:08 minutes left on the clock, Alabama had already put in 17 points on the scoreboard, while Georgia trailed with 3. Alabama started their drive with an 18-yard pass from Ty Simpson to Ryan Williams, followed by another 21-yard pass to Lotzeir Brooks, and was on Georgia’s 13 on 1st and 10. Ty Simpson was playing well, showing incredible efficiency with the running game becoming secondary in the offense. Many expected another pass for Alabama’s touchdown. Instead, on 1st-and-10, Simpson passed short to Kayden Proctor, lined up on a WR route. The next thing we saw was the 6’7″ and 366 lbs OT pummeling through Georgia players.
Georgia’s defense tried to stop the guy, but it looked impossible as Proctor trucked into a flock of UGA defenders for an 11-yard first down. The next play was effortless, as Ty Simpson ran for a touchdown on a 2-yard run. Proctor, after the game, was asked about his play, with reporters comparing it to the Patriots vs Bears touchdown run by William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry in Super Bowl XX. “Was that going through your mind as you were stiff farming dudes going down the field?” asked one reporter, referencing the Patriots’ play. For Proctor, though, 11 yards wasn’t what he aimed for, as Ryan Williams became his motivator.
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“I was obviously thinking of the touchdown, but anything before that. I had talked to Ryan (Williams), and he was like No moment’s too big for you. So I’m just doing what we practice and trying to execute to the best of my abilities, and gotta finish with a touchdown. Got to finish with a touchdown. That’s all that was running through my mind,” said Proctor. The OT also detailed how the play wasn’t an on-spot on-field innovation, but the team led by DeBoer practiced it intensively.
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“We’ve been practicing. It’s been a good play for us this week,” said Proctor, and went on to describe that his goal was always to “go through” people. “Man, that’s the biggest thing for me. Power base, you’re seeing it, I got in, clutched the ball, so that’s what I had to do, run through people. I already know what I was going to do,” said Proctor. The running game for Alabama has been relatively weak this season, and Kadyn’s contribution through his ‘beast’ of a frame was almost magic on the field.
Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Hughes called Proctor’s play, “the scariest 11-yard reception in college football history.” Kadyn’s contribution so far in the season has been on an upward trajectory, and with yesterday’s game, the OT will surely get a massive boost. PFF has given a 68.9 overall grade to Proctor so far, as he is ranked 181st nationally. His pass blocking still needs some improvement, sitting at 672nd nationally, with a grade of 56.7. Despite that, his run block grade has been good, accumulating 75.3 rush block grade, and is ranked 65th nationally. As for the team, Kalen DeBoer has claimed to have finally found the rhythm he wanted.
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Kalen DeBoer sends out a powerful message after a win over Georgia
Yesterday’s Alabama win has put Kirby Smart at a 1-6 record against the Tide, and their loss at home was the first since 2019. The record would surely haunt UGA and Kirby Smart, but Kalen DeBoer has finally found his quarterback. Ty Simpson, in particular, was phenomenal in the game, as Alabama relied heavily on his passing. Simpson completed 24 of the 38 passes for 276 yards for two touchdowns, earning a 90.1 QB rating. The receiving unit, led by Isaiah Horton and Ryan Williams, was exceptional, too, recording 280 yards in the air game. No wonder Kalen DeBoer is confident now.
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“It’s another step in the right direction for our team. There are two things you can do when things are coming down on you a little bit. You can go back into a corner, or you can fight. You’re going to get punches thrown at you. We got some tonight. What’s your response gonna be? Our response was to punch back and punch back harder,” said a confident Kalen DeBoer after a win over Georgia. It seems, contrary to claims after the loss against FSU, Alabama’s season is still very much alive. Correction: It’s actually kicking and running.
Despite that, Alabama has some tough games ahead, including Vanderbilt in Week 6, which has been performing well. The Commodores are currently undefeated in the season, accumulating 5 wins, with Diego Pavia climbing that Heisman ladder steadily. Of course, the home advantage will give Alabama some respite, but the Commodores are not to be underestimated (just like in 2024). They have defeated teams like South Carolina and Virginia Tech comfortably, and Alabama sure will need to watch out.