Shock and amazement.
Both emotions filled Bryant-Denny Stadium last year, as a walk-on emerged from the bench to handle the punting duties for Alabama football versus Tennessee. He booted two attempts that night under the LED lights, including one that traveled 51 yards and had fans reminiscent of JK Scott. This young man would then proceed to fly down the field, launch his shoulder into the return man and make the tackle. Everyone was speechless as it could not believe the punter was also an athlete too.
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He went on to play in six games in 2019, totaling 13 punts for 581 yards. The 6-foot-1, 218-pounder averaged 44.7 yards per attempt and had three kicks travel at least 50 yards.
He dropped two punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line and ended his freshman campaign on the All-Freshman team via the Southeastern Conference. Despite all of his success and the smiles he brought to fans, the young wonder has been relegated to the bench and has not punted at all through four games this year.
Where is Tylan Perine?
This is the question all Alabama fans want to know. For a coach (Nick Saban) and a team who thrives on featuring its best players on the field, it has not done this at punter. Sam Johnson, walk-on from Birmingham, Ala., was named the starter after preseason camp. As a freshman, Johnson is talented yet his punts are not providing the same hang time and distance as Perine’s.
He is averaging just 35.4 yards per boot and while he has dropped four attempts inside the opposition’s 20-yard line, his kicks are low line drives. The hang time from Perine’s boots would allow the coverage team to squeeze the returner; however, a line drive kick would give an explosive athlete on special teams the opportunity to create a play. Alabama is not in this situation yet, but one could come as the season continues.
In last week’s matchup against Georgia, Perine was not dressed out. He sat in the stands and took photos of the field, which caused Tide fans to be very concerned. How could someone of his caliber of talent not be playing?
Bama football, that’s the tweet.? pic.twitter.com/9xEpkvlyDI
— Tylan (@tylan_perine) October 18, 2020
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It is a perplexing thought.
If the Crimson Tide is not able to successfully flip the field, it will cause a lot of problems at some point. Hopefully, we will see Perine resurface this weekend versus the Volunteers. Alabama can only travel to road games with one punter — due to restrictions from Coronavirus — and it needs to be Perine. The sophomore brought instant impact as a freshman and the Tide need it.
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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.
