Who becomes Alabama’s next dynamic return specialist under Nick Saban?
Crimson Tide fans saw Javier Arenas, Cyrus Jones, Kenyan Drake, Christion Jones, Eddie Jackson, Jaylen Waddle, Jameson Williams, and DeVonta Smith excite them with great feats on special teams. Williams returned two kickoffs for touchdowns versus Southern Mississippi in 2021, setting a school record. Special teams can change the course of a game, especially when a team has a player with speed, vision, explosive cuts, balance, and a feel for the position. On Thursday, Coach Saban highlighted several players that have impressed as returners in spring practice. Kickoff returns and punt returns will not be live in the A-Day Game, but it will be good to see who takes those reps on the field. Tide fans want to see more excitement in the return game.
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“We have been trying to develop a lot of players in the kicking game,” Saban said. “We have not made any decisions, but JoJo [Earle] has done some punt return, [Jermaine] Burton can do punt return, and Kool-Aid can do punt return. Jahmyr is a really good kickoff return guy. Aaron Anderson has been a really good returner, so we have a lot of guys that we are working.”
Alabama has not made a final decision on starting return specialists, but it is good to see the depth. A combination of Burton, Gibbs, Anderson, and Earle returning kicks and punts could excite fans. We will see what happens in preseason camp and the regular season, but Saban is making sure the return game is entertaining.
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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.
