After Miami (OH) head coach Chuck Martin accused Alabama football of tampering with kicker Graham Nicholson, Kalen DeBoer responded on Thursday.

“I don’t know anything about that, I guess, that comment,” the Crimson Tide’s head coach said during a press conference. “He entered the portal and we reached out to him, so that’s how it goes, right? We did everything that we were supposed to.”

Martin was asked in a video for the Miami team website about losing his former kicker to the Crimson Tide. He responded sharply about the 2023 Lou Groza Award winner.

“We didn’t lose him, he’s at Alabama,” Martin said. “We know exactly where he’s at. Again, you media people, it’s all pretend. Like, no, Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us and that’s a fact. We act like it’s not. We live in this la-la world, like ‘Hey, let’s not talk…’ I don’t know why. Everybody knows what’s going on.

“So yeah, Alabama stole our kicker. A couple other schools tried to steal him but then… OK, what was the question?”

Nicholson entered the portal after the 2023 season, during which he became the first Mid-American Conference player to win the Groza Award. He joined the Tide, which was looking to replaced the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader, Will Reichard, now with the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

DeBoer praised Nicholson’s abilities early during preseason camp.

“I like his mindset,” DeBoer said in early August.” He’s a very confident guy. I don’t really know how he’s going to respond when he misses one. Maybe if, right? He’s great to have with us. The team has really accepted him in. I think he feels a part of it. You can’t help but look at what he’s done in the past and already know, man, this guy is really good. You can see why each and every day. He has a good process about him. We’re glad he’s here.”

Alabama opens the 2024 season against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.