All it took was a 62-yard punt in Alabama’s 2014 season opener versus West Virginia to alert the college football masses of JK Scott’s arrival. He dazzled as a freshman, gained consistency as a sophomore and continued to push forward through 15 games a season ago. Now a senior, the Crimson Tide’s All-American specialist and impact player could be facing his biggest workload in the upcoming fall.
Even with all the talent recruited for the Tide’s defensive front, it takes execution, continuity and overall effort to constantly generate negative plays. Names like Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster and Dalvin Tomlinson – 36.5 of 54 sacks in 2016 – will not be on Alabama’s roster next season.
Should it struggle with keeping a tenacious pass rush, Tide fans may see more of Scott on the field trying pin opposition inside the 20-yard line on every punt. The Denver, Colo., native has been stellar through three years, accounting for 8,756 yards on 189 attempts. He carries an average of 46.5 yards a punt, while dropping 81 of his 189 boots (43 percent) inside the 20. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 204 pounds, the golden leg from Mullen High School has a knack for driving returners back with boomers traveling 50-plus yards.
Ninety-five of his 189 punts have come in excess of 50 yards, including 29 a season ago.
This type of leg strength could prove to be an ace in the hole for head coach Nick Saban, if the Tide’s defensive front struggles early on to create pressure. During the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the trio of Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson combined for 57 of the team’s 106 sacks – 54 percent.
While it returns Rashaan Evans, Christian Miller, Terrell Hall and others, it will be a difficult task to try and repeat that kind of production. One should expect to see a slight drop in sack numbers in the fall, which may cause Scott to exercise his leg a lot more on special teams.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
