How Washington Transfers Are Helping Alabama Players Adapt to New System
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Spring football is a time of major transition for Alabama football, a level of transition that hasn't been seen around Tuscaloosa for over 15 years.
With Nick Saban now retired and new head coach Kalen DeBoer leading the program, there has been much change and much for Alabama players to adapt to over the first three days of spring practice.
But a luxury to this coaching staff leading the transition, many of which came over with DeBoer from Washington, is that a few players from DeBoer's 2023 Huskies team transferred to Alabama and is helping instill the values of that new system.
"You know what, there’s some small little nuances that come up from time to time, that every once in a while even as a coach you kind of breeze over," Alabama wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard said. "You’ve just got guys who’ve been in a groove for two years that know and understand all the details. To have guys like Germie [Bernard] and Austin [Mack] in the building, and they pull guys to the side, letting them know, ‘hey this is the expectation.'"
Bernard, a wide receiver, Mack, a quarterback, and center Parker Brailsford all were members of the 2023 Washington team that went to the national championship game. That means they were also coached by DeBoer, Shephard, and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, all of whom are major catalysts for this high-powered offensive system.
Shephard mentioned Bernard specifically, a player in his position group, as someone who has an understanding of what he expects from his players.
"Germie knew what the receivers were getting into," Shephard said. "He knew that I was going to be flying around every day, he knew that I was going to push them to their limit. He knew the expectations were going to be extremely high. He knew that the cost of admittance was going to rise. He’s helping these guys understand that our expectations in the offense are that we perform at a high level."
As Alabama's spring practice continues and builds towards the A-Day game on April 13, the trio of Washington transfers will continue to be key during this period of adjustment on the Capstone.
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