University of Alabama head football coach Karen DeBoer completed his first spring practice as head football coach and said his players are responding to the “team first” mentality with a championship mindset.

His remarks were made Thursday at the annual Team Focus charity event in Mobile, the Gulf Coast organization that provides mentorship to fatherless boys.

During a question-and-answer session with reporters prior to the event, DeBoer was asked about a wide range of topics, including recruiting in the South, in-state superstar wide receiver and freshman Ryan Williams and the team's mindset after spring training ends.

When asked what Williams has to show this summer to be on the field as a freshman, Coach DeBoer said the best players will play regardless of age.

“We're going to be playing against the best players … age doesn't matter, and Ryan has a very special skill set of explosiveness and consistency,” DeBoer said. “What was really impressive about him goes back to the week we met with him and he came to campus, he had a new head coach, a new coordinator, a new position coach and a lot on his plate.

“And when I hear him talk about the things he's really enjoying and excited about within our program, and he remembers so much of that information, it leads me to believe that this is an important decision for him and that he's really thorough and really thoughtful. I can't wait for him to get up there with our guys, because that attention to detail is never something to take for granted.”

I got the chance to ask Coach DeBoer some questions about Ryan Williams and his potential availability this season, and I think Tide fans will love his answers.

(Video provided Aldotcom) https://t.co/KlEyEGLo0T pic.twitter.com/8N1h1p0sre

—Michael Brauner (@MBraunerWNSP) May 3, 2024

When DeBoer was hired, one of the questions raised about him was whether he would be able to recruit in the South.

But he said things are going well and it's nothing new.

“It's nerve-wracking no matter where you are. I'm fortunate to have a lot of connections and ties around me and a great staff that really understands where a lot of the 2025 and 2026 players are and who they are,” he said. [players] “They've been working hard to build those relationships because I think when you come in new and try to hit the ground running, it's inevitable that you're going to fall behind, but you also need to get it all together and know where your focus is and get through a lot of film. We've been working hard on those relationships all spring,” DeBoer said.

“I think we're in a good position, but we're certainly going to have to play some catching up with some guys.”

Coach DeBoer also said the team's unselfish spirit has been exactly where it needs to be through the first practice of the spring.

“We have a team-first mentality with all of our players right now,” he said. “They're here for a reason. Not only do they want to grow as individuals, but they want to win championships. So throughout the spring season, it was clear what their focus was. We just got better every day. That's all you can hope for. And that's leading to some good momentum heading into the summer.”

“The players will have a few weeks off to gather their composure, refresh their minds and bodies and then come June they'll be back in full swing,” he said.

You can listen to the press conference here: