Kalen DeBoer may be the 2023 AP Coach of the Year, an undeniable program igniter and the fastest rising sidelines leader in the sport today, but he is not Nick Saban. Hence, many Alabama football players who originally committed to play for the seven-time national champion are entering the transfer portal. The new man in charge, however, is restocking his talent supply a bit by bringing in someone from his recent past.

Former Washington quarterback Austin Mack is following the head coach who originally recruited him and is now an official member of the Crimson Tide, per On3.com's Hayes Fawcett. A team that went into last season riddled with questions about its QB room, now moves ahead towards a potentially bright future.

Mack, who committed to the Huskies last February as a four-star recruit, did not see the field in 2023 due in large part to the presence of electric signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. He has four years of eligibility remaining and should have a good opportunity to eventually vie for the starting job in Tuscaloosa.

Both Alabama and Washington were inevitably going to endure massive roster upheaval after their respective coaching changes, especially with the transfer portal rules being so convenient these days. DeBoer quickly engineered one of the most exciting offenses in the country during his tenure in Seattle, so Alabama football fans are coming into this new era with lofty expectations.

Even with emerging quarterback Jalen Milroe starting under center, the Tide's offense remains somewhat unpredictable. Kalen DeBoer clearly believes Austin Mack can become a significant part of the long-term solution.