2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Special Teams

Kicker Will Reichard returns for his fifth year, but he's not the only specialist back in the saddle.

Special teams can make or break an entire roster. While it's the least thought-about position group on the field, if your specialist unit is lacking, you're at an extreme disadvantage on the field.

For Alabama, special teams have been a model of inconsistency.

Over the years, the kicking game in particular has been an often-talked-about topic of discussion. We all know the stigma. Crimson Tide kickers, am I right? It's no secret that Alabama has had its fair share of blunders at the position.

Enter Will Reichard.

The program's all-time leader for career points with 426 on 62 field goals and 240 made PATs, Reichard has become one of the most reliable placekickers in Alabama history since coming into the fold as a freshman in 2019.

After initially declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft and accepting a senior bowl invite, Reichard returns as a graduate student after ranking second in the SEC and third nationally in total points scored last season with 130 — nailing 22 field goals across 26 tries and making 64 PATs in as many attempts. Good enough for Second Team All-SEC and Second Team All-American honors.

Behind Reichard at kicker will be freshman Conor Talty, one of the top kickers in the 2023 class. Listed as a three-star signee, Talty was a 2023 Under Armour All-American game selection and rated as the No. 2 kicker in the country, according to Chris Sailer Kicking.

At punter, James Burnip returns for his third season as the Crimson Tide's starter. Last season, the Australian native recorded 44 punts for 1,861 yards — good enough for a 42.3 average. While he doesn't have the strongest leg, Burnip also booted six punts of 50-plus yards with a long of 58. Behind his impressive location, hang time, and control, Alabama allowed just six yards per attempt to punt returners with zero scores.

Junior Kneeland Hibbett will return for his third season as the starter after starting every game at long snapper since his arrival. Hibbett did not have a botched snap as a freshman or sophomore.

At punt returner, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry returns once more. As a sophomore, McKinstry led the country in explosive returns last season, tallying eight returns that went at least 20 yards. The junior also ranked second in the nation in both total yards and YPA (yards per attempt), but did not record a touchdown.

With Jahmyr Gibbs' departure, it'll be wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks who likely takes the role as primary kick-returner. Last season, the Crimson Tide had just two explosive returns of 30+ yards, with no touchdowns. They'll be looking to improve that mark, hoping to find some electricity at a position devalued by college football's continued push for enhanced safety protocols.

Projected Depth Chart:

Kicker

1. Will Reichard (Grad.)

2. Conor Talty (Fr.)

Hold

1. James Burnip (Jr.)

Punter

1. James Burnip (Jr.)

2. Will Reichard (Grad.)

Long Snapper

1. Kneeland Hibbett (Jr.)

Kick Return

1. Ja'Corey Brooks (Jr.)

2. Jermaine Burton (Sr.)

Punt Return

1. Kool-Aid McKinstry (Jr.)

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Special Teams

Will Reichard

6-1, 194 pounds, graduate student, kicker 

The program's all-time leader for career points with 426 on 62 field goals and 240 made PATs, Reichard is also the UA record holder for career PATs and ranks fourth on the Alabama list for career field goals.

Conor Talty

6-1, 195 pounds, freshman, kicker

Rated by Kohl's Kicking as a five-star placekicker and four-and-a-half star punter. 2022 Under Armor All-American. 2022 Polynesian Bowl selection. 

James Burnip

6-6, 220 pounds, junior, punter

Recorded 44 punts for 1,861 yards for a 42.3 average. 10th in the SEC in YPA. Product of Mount Macedon, Victoria in Australia. 

Kneeland Hibbett

6-2, 245 pounds, junior, long-snapper

Walk-on long snapper who won the starting job late in fall camp as a freshman. Two-year starter. Noted social media influencer with 392k followers on Tik-Tok. 

Kool-Aid McKinstry

6-1, 195 pounds, junior, return specialist

Earned first team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus at cornerback. Named a second team All-American at corner by the AFCA and The Sporting News. 

Ja'Corey Brooks

6-2, 195 pounds, junior, return specialist

Led Alabama and tied for third in the SEC with eight receiving touchdowns. Averaged a team-high 17.3 yards per catch to rank sixth in the conference. 

This is the final story in BamaCentral's preseason position series 

See Also:

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Quarterbacks

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Safeties

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Running Backs