In an offseason filled with more turnover than before in the Nick Saban error, no new hires should bring about more excitement than that of Texas A&M’s Jeff Banks. Banks spent the last four seasons at College Station, turning the Aggies’ special teams unit into one of the elites year in and year out.
Last season, Alabama failed to score on either a kick return or a punt return all year. A&M’s Christian Kirk, soon to be a prized NFL Draft pick, was responsible for one of each under Banks, in addition to nearly 700 return yards. 2016 was even better for the return unit as they managed to double this year’s performance with four scores on the year. In his freshman season, Kirk even managed to rattle off a punt return against the Crimson Tide:
One way to make up a 26.5 point spread: Special teams TDs. Christian Kirk hit Alabama with a 69-yard punt return TD in 2015. #12thMan pic.twitter.com/oPdieehrTd
— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) October 3, 2017
Alabama’s special teams have suffered since the loss of Cyrus Jones to the NFL Draft, and have even become a liability with its numerous drops on punt returns.
More impressive, even, was the Aggies’ kicking game under Banks. As Alabama fans will surely know, the kicking game has consistently been the worst side of Nick Saban’s teams in Tuscaloosa since his arrival and Banks looks to be poised to help turn that around. TAMU’s Daniel LaCamera went 35-for-45 (77.7%) on field goals over the past two seasons, with an impressive long of 52 yards against the Tide. In a game against Florida last season, he was a perfect 4-for-4 including a go-ahead with under a minute left to play.
Prior to LaCamera, Banks helped turn current Jacksonville Jaguars starting kicker, Josh Lambo, into an NFL-worthy player. With such a deep resume, it is safe to say that Banks can bring a lot of that mentality to Tuscaloosa and maybe, just maybe, finally rid the team of the kicking cure it has suffered for so long.
