Alabama Football: Tide adds a placekicker to 2018 class
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football has added former Temple kicker, Austin Jones to the 2018 recruiting class. Jones will join the Tide as a graduate transfer.
Alabama football has so many interested, top 2018 prospects, adding a specialist could not take up another scholarship slot. Placekicker Joseph Bulovas, from the 2017 class, was a blueshirt the past season so his scholarship counts against the 2018, 25 annual limit. Nick Saban also used a 2018 scholarship to bring in punter Syler Delong.
Monday’s great recruiting news for the Tide is Temple graduate transfer, Austin Jones will join the 2018 Tide roster as a walk-on. Jones was Temple’s starting placekicker from his freshman year until an ACL injury in his junior season. He shared kicking duties last season while still recovering from his knee injury.
In Jones’ four-year Temple career he made 102 of 104 extra point attempts for a 98.1 percent conversion rate. He also made 50 of 67 field goal attempts for a conversion percentage of 74.6 percent. Jones did extra duty as Temple’s kickoff specialist which led to his ACL injury. Before the injury, as a Temple junior, Jones set a school record by making 19 consecutive field goals.
Austin Jones’ longest made college field goal is 47 yards. His strength is accuracy. His leg also looks plenty strong in the video below.
#Bama picks up a commitment from the No.1 ranked #KohlsKicking college transfer, Austin Jones.
— Kohl's Kicking Camps (@KohlsKicking) January 29, 2018
Jones competed in the Kohl's Kicking Senior Challenge video broadcast for uncommitted senior and transfer kickers just weeks ago. #RollTide pic.twitter.com/6ZNr1icV6u
Jones is not expected to handle kickoffs for Alabama. 2018 freshman, Joseph Bulovas will probably handle the kickoff duties. Bulovas has the reputation of having a strong leg. The rumored weakness for Bulovas is that he struggles to get enough height on his field goals quick enough. As a result, too many of Bulovas field goals can be blocked.
If that rumor is correct, new special teams coach, Jeff Banks will strive to correct the problem. Having Bulovas’ strong leg for longer field goals would be a big plus for the Tide.
Austin Jones has to finish the current semester at Temple in order to graduate. He will relocate to Tuscaloosa this summer.
Next: Saban gearing up for years to come
Check out Austin’s announcement from Instagram.