Kalen DeBoer reacts to Alabama K Conor Talty bouncing back against Auburn

© Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Saturday, Alabama football added a 27-20 victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl to the list of 2025 accomplishments, and the Crimson Tide saw one of their biggest question marks have a perfect night.

Kicker Conor Talty nailed both of his field goal attempts in this heated rivalry game. Talty scored the first points of the game by drilling a 45-yard kick in the first quarter. He later made up for his misses from short yardage in the past by making a 29-yarder to extend Alabama’s lead to seven in the third quarter.

It’s been a roller coaster journey for the Alabama kicking game, and head coach Kalen DeBoer is proud that the work Talty’s done in practice is finally starting to translate onto the field in games.

“Conor, I’m just really proud of him,” DeBoer said. “He’s been kicking really well in practice. I know what matters is in the games, but that 45-yard, I think it was right around that, the first one into a little breeze. Man, that’s a hard kick, especially coming off what I think most people would probably perceive as some rough outings.”

A week ago, Talty was booed by the Alabama fans in Bryant-Denny Stadium after blowing a 28-yard attempt. The week prior, he missed a 26-yarder and went viral for fussing at his long snapper.

DeBoer informed reporters last Monday that Talty made things right with his teammates in the locker room, and his made field goals against Auburn might have made things right with the Alabama fanbase and showed a “lesson in resiliency”.

“I’m proud of the way the team supports him,” DeBoer said. “I’m proud of the way he’s responded. He just went back to work. It’s a lesson in resiliency for everyone, and it’s a lesson in the brotherhood. No matter what it looks like or feels like inside, it’s tight. These guys forgive, forget and move on, and all they care about is what’s best for the team. That’s the competitiveness of Conor. That’s the competitiveness of the whole team.”

Talty had seven misses coming into the Iron Bowl, and the sophomore added a pair of field goals to up his total to 13 makes on the season.

Alabama will play in the SEC Championship next week, and the Crimson Tide will need Talty to continue heading in the right direction against a Georgia Bulldogs team that has been in numerous close games this year.