Paul W. “Bear” Bryant made special teams a priority during his coaching tenure at the University of Alabama.
Nick Saban, a six-time national champion, had excellence special teams play too in his 17 seasons, but will that side of the game serve as an underrated strength for the Crimson Tide this year? No one has talked much about it, yet the Tide returns one of the nation’s best punters. It also acquired a Lou Groza Award-winning placekicker from the NCAA transfer portal and has several athletes that can be electric return specialists. A break down is below on why special teams will be a strength for Alabama.
James Burnip
James Burnip took a massive jump in production from 2022 to 2023 as a punter for Alabama.
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He improved from averaging 42.3 yards per punt in 2022 to 47.6 yards per attempt last year. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder from Australia made first-team All-American from Pro Football Focus and second-team All-SEC from the league’s coaches.
Twenty-four of his 59 punts in 2023 traveled 50-plus yards, including five 60-plus yard attempts. Burnip dropped several balls inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, helping Alabama to a Southeastern Conference Championship. He averaged 50.3 yards per punt in the Rose Bowl versus Michigan, including a long attempt of 62 yards. Burnip had five of his seven boots fall inside the Wolverines’ 20-yard line. If the Tide had won the matchup, Burnip would have been the Most Valuable Player for his efforts.
His ability to flip the field consistently makes him a weapon.
Graham Nicholson
Alabama made the best move in the NCAA transfer portal after graduating Will Reichard to the National Football League.
It took Graham Nicholson, a former standout at the University of Miami at Ohio, to be its kicker. Nicholson made first-team All-Mid American Conference, MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, and Consensus All-American for his success in 2023.
He won the Lou Groza Award — the honor for college football’s best kicker — after making 27 of 28 field goals and 35 of 37 PAT attempts last season. Nicholson set an NCAA record with 25 straight made field goals in a single season. He produced 52 touchbacks on 73 kickoffs and guided Miami to a MAC Championship. His leg gives the Tide more assurance for points.
Potential return specialists
Alabama is looking for a return specialist on punts and kickoffs that will create explosive plays.
The Crimson Tide had names such as Javier Arenas, Christion Jones, Cyrus Jones, Kenyan Drake, Eddie Jackson, Jaylen Waddle, and Jameson Williams that excelled at it under Nick Saban. Kalen DeBoer has players that can do the job, including Ryan Williams, Jaylen Mbakwe, Cole Adams, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kendrick Law, and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
It comes down to which one can earn the trust of the coaching staff to handle the ball and make explosive plays.
If the right guy emerges, the Tide will be extremely dangerous in the return game aspect.
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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.
