Alabama fans are well-versed in anxiety-inducing kicking games.
Even during the height of the Nick Saban dynasty, field goals were always an adventure and typically the lone chink in the Crimson Tide armor. That's why Will Reichard is so beloved and will always be remembered by Alabama fans. His five-year run as the starting kicker removed the wailing and gnashing of teeth that usually accompanied an Alabama kicker trotting on the field.
That anxiety returned in full force last season with Conor Talty's inconsistencies. He connected on 16-of-23 field goal attempts, and though he made his final five attempts to finish off the season, his redshirt sophomore season will be remembered for his meltdown on Alabama's long snapper after he missed a critical kick before the half against Oklahoma in a game the Crimson Tide ultimately lost by two points.
Talty was booed heavily by Alabama fans the following week against Eastern Illinois, but that seemed to help him turn a corner. He hit a couple of pivotal kicks in the Iron Bowl and in a redemptive effort against Oklahoma on the road in the opening round of the CFP.
But it was clear that Kalen DeBoer wasn't pleased with the performance of his special teams as a whole last season. Alabama finished 107th in the country in SP+'s special teams metric, and taking a big step in that phase of the game is vital to the Tide taking an overall step forward in 2026.
The biggest special teams addition will serve as competition for Talty. Marshall freshman kicker Lorcan Quinn, originally from Ireland, transferred to Alabama this offseason. He's brought a big leg with him to Tuscaloosa and appears poised to beat out Talty for the starting job, based on comments DeBoer made recently.
Marshall transfer Lorcan Quinn appears to have the upper 'leg' in Alabama's kicker competition
Quinn had an impressive freshman season with Marshall before transferring to Alabama. His big leg was an obvious selling point, serving to weaponize Alabama's kicking game with a kicker who can consistently make from long distances.
“He’s got a big leg on him. I’m not going to be worried about the length of the kick, the distance," DeBoer said at SEC spring meetings, via AL.com's Nick Kelly.
Quinn hit 4-of-6 from 50+ last season, and 8-of-10 on kicks from 40+. Since Reichard exhausted his eligibility, Alabama kickers have combined to make one 50-yard FG over the last two years. Talty only attempted one from 50+ last year, a miss in the season-opening loss to Florida State.
The one concern with Quinn is consistency. Whereas Talty was perfect on extra points last year, Quinn missed one, along with missing three kicks from under 40 yards, two of which came from under 30 yards.
Quinn will undoubtedly have a role for Alabama next season, even if he's just the long-distance kicker. Perhaps the Cade Foster to Talty's Jeremy Shelley, though hopefully with a lot more accuracy.
Who handles the shorter kicks will come down to which kicker is more consistent throughout fall camp. Quinn's addition will help with that, regardless of whether it's he or Talty who ultimately wins out. Competition tends to bring out the best, and with Quinn breathing down his neck, Talty will have no choice but to get better if he wants to maintain a role on this team.
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