Kalen DeBoer: CFB’s Next Head Coaching Superstar?

Kalen DeBoer: CFB’s Next Head Coaching Superstar?

Has anyone started paying attention to what’s going on with Washington football? Maybe you should be. Kalen DeBoer is a name you need to know because he’s turning heads with his job performance. The Pac 12 is starting to become sneaky competitive and DeBoer may have Washington back in the mix in 2023 and in the future.

I’ll be the first to admit; I didn’t know the first thing about Kalen DeBoer prior to this year. DeBoer won three national titles in five years at Sioux Falls, but what did it really mean? DeBoer helped guide Indiana to 443.6 yards per game in 2019, but what did it really mean? DeBoer 9-3 in his second and final season at Fresno State, but what did it really mean?

Well… the guy just stepped on campus at Washington and immediately lit the world on fire in year one. After an 11-2 season with Washington this past year, DeBoer now sports a head coaching record of 90-11. Maybe it’s time to start paying attention.

I’m not going to sit there and dial-up plays on the chalkboard. I’m not a film guy and nor do I have time. What I will say is that I know what my eyes tell me and what DeBoer just did with Michael Penix shouldn’t have been possible. Penix went from totally undraftable to a potential day three pick. Keep in mind that DeBoer was Penix’s offensive coordinator in 2019 with Indiana. We’re going to play a numbers game.

*not included: Penix’s 2018 freshman season where he had 34 total attempts.

2019: Six games, 68.8%, 8.7 YPA, 10-4 TD to INT ratio

2020: Six games, 56.4%, 7.5 YPA, 14-4 TD to INT ratio

2021: Five games, 53.7%, 5.8 YPA, 4-7 TD to INT ratio

2022: 13 games, 65.3%, 65.3%, 8.4 YPA, 31-8 TD to INT ratio

Noticing a trend here? Again, you would have to be a complete and utter moron to consider Michael Penix a draftable quarterback. Somehow DeBoer made it feel possible.

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It’s time to start taking Washington seriously again. The Huskies sport a top 30 recruiting class in 2023 reeling in a bunch of three and four star recruits. DeBoer has proven he knows offense and the culture knows defensive backs. Washington is a serious darkhorse sleeper in the Pac 12 moving forward. This is your notice. It’s time to start believing in what Kalen DeBoer is cooking.