Alabama football will have a different look in 2023. Gone are a pair of elite talents in Bryce Young and Will Anderson, as well as both of Nick Saban’s top coordinators.

And while Bill O’Brien made an expected return to the NFL and the New England Patriots, Pete Golding surprised some by staying within the SEC West and former Saban assistant Lane Kiffin. During SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Saban commented on the departure of his former defensive coordinator.

“Look, everybody needs to make their personal choices and decisions about where they best can develop their career,” Saban said in the Nashville Grand Hyatt. “Pete did a great job for us. I like Pete. He improved every year with us in terms of how he did his job, which I was always pleased with. And he chose, for personal reasons, or whatever reasons, that it was a better opportunity for him to go someplace else. That’s his prerogative. We wish him well.”

Alabama ranked 13th in total defense a year ago, conceding 318.2 yards per game. It was the ninth-best defense nationally in terms of scoring — and second in the SEC behind Georgia — conceding 18.15 points a game. Ole Miss ranked 75th in total defense and 57th in scoring (25.54 points), respectively.

The Tide lost six defensive starters to the 2023 NFL Draft, namely Anderson and middle linebacker Henry To’oTo’o. Saban hired a familiar face in Kevin Steele back in February. It’s Steele’s third stint in Tuscaloosa after initially being Saban’s defensive coordinator in 2007.

Speaking then about Golding’s hire, Kiffin referenced “family things” that helped the Rebels bring Golding to the ‘Sip.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].