The addition of a tenth coach on the field has paid dividends for Alabama.
In his first season at Tuscaloosa, Jeff Banks brought positive consistency to the Crimson Tide on special teams.
After coaching the likes of Drew Kazer, Shane Tripuka, Daniel LaCamera, Josh Lambo and Christian Kirk of Texas A&M to success, Banks has helped Alabama secure a Southeastern Conference title and enter the College Football Playoff as the top-ranked seed.
Per a report from Football Scoop, the premiere source for coaching job information, Banks was awarded Special Teams Coordinator of the Year.
News came on Thursday as he pushed the Tide to strong numbers in the category that legendary coach, Paul Bryant deemed very important.
Despite its offense not totaling many three-and-outs, Alabama had just eight of its 38 punts returned for a total of 19 yards – which is an average of 2.38 yards per return.
This output ranks fifth in college football.
When it came to returning punts, Banks had a dangerous weapon in Jaylen Waddle that finished sixth in the nation in punt return average (15.1 yards/return).
The freshman would also record a touchdown on 15 attempts and made the All-Freshman Team from the Southeastern Conference and Associated Press.
A former specialist at Washington State University, Banks even had the Tide boasting a top-25 kick return team – averaging 23.5 yards per return with one score.
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Alabama was one of 17 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs to post a kick return and a punt return score this season. Its defense also snuffed out a fake punt versus Georgia in the Southeastern Conference title game; the matchup that Banks and the Tide won, 35-28.
Nick Saban stated a few times on the importance of having a tenth coach on the field.
He said the program was able to finally get an “actually special teams’ coach, instead of just hiring an assistant and placing it on that side of the ball.” To add more context in Saban’s statement, Banks was heavily involved in the Tide signing three-star kicker Will Reichard for the 2019 class. He is regarded as the nation’s No. 1 kicking prospect.
It is a well-deserved honor for Banks; however, he also wants a chance to bring home a national championship. Alabama will face Oklahoma on Saturday, Dec. 29 in the Orange Bowl for the CFP semifinal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
