Alabama football’s Kalen DeBoer era is off and running. Since landing at Tuscaloosa National Airport on Jan. 12, the Crimson Tide’s new head coach has been assembling his staff and trying to keep UA’s roster together as much as possible during the 30-day transfer portal window triggered by Nick Saban’s retirement.

During a Monday appearance on The Next Round Live internet show, UA offensive guard Tyler Booker, who has been the Tide’s most vocal team member on the subject of sticking around, was asked what he has liked so far about the DeBoer regime.

“The thing that I really like about coach DeBoer is he was like, ‘What made y’all successful?’” Booker said. What do we need to keep? What is a tradition piece, what is a culture piece that we need to keep? Because we want to keep things similar but we also want to add some changes as well. But coach DeBoer has been really receptive to the feedback we’ve given him about some things that are in place here that need to stay in place.”

Booker said he hadn’t seen a complete playbook yet, but had been watching some of DeBoer’s games from last season at Washington, specifically the Huskies’ two wins against Oregon. He praised the new coach’s offensive scheme, noting that it could be even better with “SEC speed.”

He remained optimistic for UA’s prospects in 2024.

“We are seven points away from being where we need to be,” Booker said, referring to Alabama’s overtime loss to Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals. “And we have the guy and coaching staff that got where we wanted to be. We’re so close. That’s what I’m just preaching to everybody. That’s what we really told each other, and that’s why it was so easy for me to stay. Like, ‘Look guys, we’re only seven points away, and we’re only going to get better.’ We’re a young team and we’re still going to continue to develop.”

Booker said the team found out about the DeBoer hire the day it was made. The new coach flew in from Washington that night and met with the Crimson Tide.

According to the soon-to-be junior offensive lineman, DeBoer made a good first impression.

“I like coach DeBoer a lot,” Booker said. “The first thing that he said that stuck with me was his non-negotiables. He had three non-negotiables and the first thing that he mentioned was family and togetherness, playing for one another.”

DeBoer’s first game as Alabama’s head coach is scheduled for Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky.