Former Syracuse running back Will Nixon has joined Alabama's coaching staff as an offensive analyst, according to Football Scoop. Nixon has been with the Crimson Tide since the start of training camp, the outlet reported.
The move reunites Nixon with Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, for whom he played at Washington from 2022 to 2023. During that stint, the Huskies won the 2023 Pac-12 championship and reached the national championship game, where they lost to Michigan. After DeBoer left for Alabama, Nixon transferred to Syracuse, where he joined his father, Jeff Nixon, the Orange's offensive coordinator, for the final two seasons of his college career.
Nixon's 2025 season at Syracuse was his most productive as a player, as he finished with 619 yards from scrimmage and three rushing touchdowns, according to com. Another report notes that he logged a career-high 432 rushing yards during that campaign, while having appeared in 26 games over two seasons at Washington, where he was a key rotational back during the 2023 run, recording 290 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 20 receptions.
Nixon's path to Alabama included a brief foray into professional football. He began pursuing a seventh year of eligibility for the 2026 season but opted instead to pursue an NFL career, according to com. He received interest from the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Carolina Panthers, and eventually signed a minicamp deal with the Bills, though he did not participate in any teams' preseason training camps.
Football coaching runs in the family. Nixon is the son of Jeff Nixon, Syracuse's current offensive coordinator, who previously coached for the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, as noted by Essentially Sports. His sister, Jasmine, plays for Syracuse's women's soccer team, according to com.
In his new role, Nixon is set to work alongside Alabama running backs coach Robert Gillespie, who also serves as assistant head coach, per Essentially Sports. The hire comes as Alabama capitalizes on relaxed NCAA regulations that allow unlimited off-field personnel to provide hands-on coaching and tactical instruction, a change that permitted DeBoer to bring on an analyst before the season opener.
Nixon has experience playing under Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, having played for him at Washington, which adds familiarity to the staff. He began his college career as a wide receiver before transitioning to running back and played in three different major conferences, bringing a versatile perspective to his analyst role, according to Essentially Sports.
Alabama's coaching staff has seen several changes ahead of the 2026 season. DeBoer has hired Adrian Klemm to coach the offensive line and Derrick Nix as wide receivers coach, while Kane Wommack returns as defensive coordinator, with Maurice Linguist, Freddie Roach, Jay Valai, and Jay Nunez retained as position coaches, according to Essentially Sports. Bryan Ellis has been shifted to coach tight ends, and Robert Gillespie remains running backs coach. The team lost several players to the NFL draft and transfer portal after the 2025 season, and the offensive line features new starters, the outlet added.
As Alabama prepares for its 2026 season opener against East Carolina on September 5, the program has named Keelon Russell as its starting quarterback, winning a battle against Austin Mack, according to Essentially Sports. The same report notes that preseason predictions favor teams like Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU, and Ole Miss over Alabama, and that wide receiver Noah Rogers is returning to health faster than expected, while Tim Keenan III underwent tightrope ankle surgery, complicating preparations for defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.