He inherited reliable specialists and acquired one from the NCAA transfer portal, but Kalen DeBoer may arguably have the nation’s best group on special teams at the University of Alabama.
Nick Saban brought joy to names such as Carson Tinker, Cole Mazza, Levi Wallace, Jamey Mosely, and others that arrived as walk-ons to the Crimson Tide but emerged with an athletic scholarship. Coach DeBoer decided to surprise a veteran long snapper for Alabama this week in fall practice. Kneeland Hibbett has continued the Tide’s consistency at the position, following in the footsteps of Tinker, Mazza, and Scott Meyer.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder is one of the most respect and well-liked players on the team.
A native of Florence, Ala., Hibbett won the starting job as a walk-on in 2021 late in fall camp. He helped the Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship, a College Football Playoff berth, and an appearance in the CFP national title game.
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He was perfect on every snap that year.
His consistency continued in 2022 as he started all 13 games and recorded a fumble versus Auburn on punt coverage.
Hibbett made first-team All-SEC from the league’s coaches in 2023, assisting Alabama to another SEC Championship. The Tide has Graham Nicholson (kicker) and James Burnip (punter) on scholarship, but now Hibbett has earned one.
“We gave Kneeland a scholarship,” DeBoer said Thursday.
“I was not sure internally how to handle it because I did not know the … I wanted to surprise him and we did that. He deserves that. He is rock solid and just a great person. You can just see the type of leader he is. You see how much the guys trust him, believe in him, and how much they respect him. I think the long snapper, like many other specialists, is a guy you undervalue until those times come when the lights are bright and that snap is not made, that kick is not made, or a punt that did not end how it was suppose to so he is really trustworthy.”
Hibbett will spend his final season on scholarship, and he hopes it ends with a national championship.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
