Saturday night in Coleman Coliseum, Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer and quarterback Jalen Milroe were seated near each other at the Alabama-Tennessee basketball game. On Monday, they took the field at Mal Moore Athletic Facility, for the Crimson Tide’s first spring practice under DeBoer’s leadership.

It’s a totally new era for Alabama, but when the Tide lined up offensively, it was the same quarterback behind center as last season.

“Someone had to take the first reps today with the ones, we lined up and we refer to them as that and Jalen did,” DeBoer said. “He’s putting everything into he can, along with the other guys that took those first reps.”

Milroe was the winner of a lengthy quarterback competition last year. He beat out Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson for the starting job.

The now-redshirt junior struggled early on in 2023, but turned things around in a major way. He helped lead UA to an SEC title and collected Heisman Trophy votes by season’s end.

DeBoer made it known that Milroe is entering spring practice taking the first snaps, but said he wanted competition to take place at every position.

“I fully expect those guys that are really hungry to be pushing those guys that are ahead of them to be their best,” DeBoer said. “That’s what you want in a football program and that’s certainly going to be the case here with so many good football players here, wanting to get on the football field.”

DeBoer explained his coaching strategy with players who weren’t with the top group as he transitions the Tide to new leadership.

“You’re gathering information every day,” he said. “You’re getting to know them, they’re getting to know myself and the staff and so those first impressions I know are important for those guys as they’re out there today competing, going and making plays and the intensity was high.”

Monday marked the first of 15 spring practices for the Crimson Tide. Spring ball will resume on Wednesday, and will conclude April 13, with Alabama’s annual A-Day spring game.