Less than one week after losing Brian Daboll to the Buffalo Bills, Alabama has a new leader for its offense.

Nick Saban is promoting Mike Locksley to offensive coordinator, according to a report from ESPN. Locksley will also now coach quarterbacks, per ESPN.

The 48-year old Locksley has been at Alabama since 2016 and was the Crimson Tide's co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach last season. He arrived as an offensive analyst after a stint as Maryland's interim head coach.

This will be a popular move inside the Alabama building. Players expressed support for Locksley on social media when the job first came open and posted messages indicating that they'd be very happy with the move when reports began to circulate on Wednesday night that Locksley was in a good position to land the job.

It will be the former New Mexico head coach's third opportunity to be an offensive coordinator after OC stints at Maryland (2012-15) and Illinois (2005-08).

In 2013, Locksley helped Maryland surpass 5,000 yards for just the fourth time in school history and the first time since 2003.

Illinois ranked No. 19 nationally in total offense under Locksley in 2008 after ranking 86th in 2004, the year before he arrived at the school. Illinois ranked among the top-10 nationally in rushing in both 2006 and 2007 and was then first in the Big 10 in passing in 2008.

Matt Zenitz is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.