Alabama football rumors: 4-star commits, why Kevin Steele returned, who wins QB battle?

There will be a new face to lead the Alabama football team under center this upcoming season.

While Alabama football fans don’t believe the dynasty is dead, they are now coming up on three years without a national championship victory.

To be fair, Alabama will once again be on the shortlist of teams who can realistically win the national championship. This is because the Crimson Tide recruit phenomenally under Nick Saban and make one good hire after another after a top-flight coordinator of theirs leaves for a better job. Of course, he will be breaking in a new quarterback this season with Bryce Young in the NFL.

Here is some of the juiciest news about the Crimson Tide as we head into the final week of May.

Alabama football rumors: What is going on with the Crimson Tide of late?

Alabama football rumors: Why Kevin Steele returned to Tuscaloosa a third time

It will be new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s third time serving on Saban’s coaching staff at Alabama. Steele left Miami after one season to replace Pete Golding, who flipped SEC West allegiances to go work for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. As one of the most respected defensive minds in the game today, it is pretty simple as to why Steele came back: He respects the process of Saban.

While Alabama tried to hire back its former defensive coordinator and Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt, going with Steele for the time being seems to be a swell idea. We know what were are getting out of him and his defense. Saban specializes in coaching of defensive backs, whereas Steele is adept at generating pressure from the defensive front seven. This is a pairing that works.

With so much uncertainty and inexperience in the grand scheme of things with new, 30-something offensive coordinator Tommy Rees coming over from Notre Dame, Saban clearly wanted about as close to a sure thing as he could leading his defense. Since Golding’s defense was largely hit or miss, look for Steele to redefine this Alabama front-seven that will make them great.

If Steele’s defense can help bridge the gap with Rees’ offense, Alabama can contend this season.