Alabama offense + Nick Saban appearance highlight first A-Day of Kalen DeBoer era

Just over 70,000 people piled into Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first official spring game of the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa.

Fans could not have asked for better weather for the 2024 A-Day. The Quad may not have been packed to the brim with tailgaters but there was enough excitement in the air to make it feel close to a fall gameday at the University of Alabama.

“Seeing the guys come on the Walk of Champions, seeing that and feeling the energy and excitement of what it would be on a Saturday. That was a lot of fun. Being in the locker room, just the excitement… The energy, the excitement leading up to the spring game was something that kind of hit me today.”

~ Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer

So before we dive into the game, let’s take a look at one of the day’s biggest draws for fans: an appearance by former coach Nick Saban.

Nick Saban and last year’s captains have arrived at Denny Chimes for the annual A-Day tradition! pic.twitter.com/4OhuCTUCh6

— TheBamaBuzz (@buzz_bama) April 13, 2024

Walk of Fame Tradition

Every year, Alabama uses A-Day to bring back its captains from the previous season for a ceremony that allows those players to leave their mark on campus… literally.

The Crimson Tide has its captains put their footprint and handprint into cement next to Denny Chimes, joining the Walk of Fame with captains who came before them. The 2023 captains included Jalen Milroe, Malachi Moore, and Dallas Turner. Milroe and Moore are back this season and hit the field later in the afternoon.

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban took part in the ceremony, returning for his final Walk of Fame speech. He took time to thank his captains for what they accomplished in 2023 and thank the fans for their support through previous A-Day games.

“I’m one of you, I’m one of the fans now. This is a great tradition we have. The captains of the team have a legacy that withstands the test of time… I can’t thank them enough for their hard work and all that they did to make the team what it was. You can be proud of the SEC Championship, the playoff that they were able to establish for themselves. I’m very very proud of that team and I’m very proud of these guys for all that they did.”

~ Former Alabama coach Nick Saban

Saban went on to speak about his first A-Day experience when more than 90,000 fans showed up. He said it set the tone of his time at Alabama and helped fuel the program’s success.

What Kalen DeBoer said about his team’s performance

“That’s what got the offense to a hot start with the scrimmage is those explosive plays. I love that we can come out of the locker room and kickoff happened, and we’re ready to go.”

~ Kalen DeBoer

It was a new format for the spring game this season and instead of two sides facing off for a steak dinner, the offense was pitted against the defense with a different scoring format. The offense would officially win the game 34-28 after jumping out to a 31-0 lead. Here are some key offensive numbers from the game:

• QB Jalen Milroe: 3/9, 100 yards
• RB Jam Miller: 8 rushes, 83 yards, 2 TDs; media MVP award
• WR Germie Bernard: 3 catches, 122 yards

Miller led a strong rushing attack that finished with 206 yards and accounted for all four offensive touchdowns Saturday. Richard Young and Justice Haynes also scored.

Milroe hit two deeps passes to Bernard and led multiple touchdown drives. Ty Simpson, Dylan Lonergon and Austin Mack all also took snaps in the scrimmage.

“All the quarterbacks did a better job of pushing the pocket at the right time, that’s something we’ve been emphasizing rather than just sitting back there and letting the rush get to you.”

~Kalen DeBoer

The defense recovered well, nearly coming all the way back by getting points through defensive stops, stringing together several 3-and-outs.

“Not worrying about the score, I heard that on that side. Just not worry about it, just continue to get better and be in the moment. Get the guys on the ground when you have a chance to tackle and play the next play. We talk in terms of a 1-0 mindset so win the next rep and they did that more than the offense did in the second part of the scrimmage.”

~ Kalen DeBoer

2024 Alabama Football Schedule

The next time fans will see the Crimson Tide inside a packed Bryant-Denny Stadium will be a game that means something. Check out the full 2024 fall schedule below.

And in case you missed it, if you’re looking for more on Auburn’s spring game coverage, you can check it out here.

Were you in Tuscaloosa for A-Day? Let us know your thoughts by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn!