In response to the Crimson Tide hiring a former Michigan coach before the Rose Bowl, Alabama fans
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George Helow, 36, was a member of Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff in 2021 and 2022 and won two Big Ten Conference Championships.
He infuses the Crimson Tide with a great deal of enthusiasm and system knowledge from Michigan. Particularly considering that Saban is going for his ninth national championship, Alabama supporters view this as a major chess move on his part. Helow joins the Tide in a new coaching capacity that has not yet been made public. As a defensive coordinator, he replaced Coleman Hutzler. Helow’s help will be invaluable in preparing Alabama to withstand any attack from Michigan on New Year’s Day.
Matthews studies at Cornelius, North Carolina’s Wilamlia.A. Hough High School. As a sophomore and member of the 2026 recruiting class, he is rated as a four-star recruit by a number of recruiting websites. He currently has over 20 offers, from a variety of schools, including Florida State, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
The offer from the Crimson Tide was communicated to the North Carolina product during Joe Cox’s visit to his school, the tight end coach for Alabama.
Matthews remarked, “I was shocked and very excited.” At first, it was difficult to believe. Alabama is a fantastic program, and I grew up watching them and loving every aspect of them. It’s just an offer that, as little children, everyone coveted.
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With his length and quick reflexes, 6-foot-1 and 185-pound Matthews was a standout defensive back in the 2023 football season. His ability to close on the football quickly and stand out in coverage by twisting and sprinting with wide receivers and making plays with the ball in the pocket demonstrated his effectiveness against the run and plays underneath.
