While much of the national conversation surrounding Alabama football this offseason has centered on schematic shifts and roster turnover, one of the program’s most pressing weaknesses lingered largely under the radar. In a sport where field position and late-game precision often decide outcomes, the Crimson Tide's special teams became an unexpected liability—one that head coach Kalen DeBoer could no longer afford to ignore.
DeBoer's intent became obvious in the past month as Alabama made a quiet but deliberate effort to overhaul its specialists by dipping into the Transfer Portal to add former North Alabama punter Adam Watford, Marshall kicker Lorcan Quinn, and ex-Syracuse long snapper Ethan Strangle.
This strategic approach influenced reinforcements that arrived after a 2025 season in which the Crimson Tide’s special teams lagged well behind conference standards. Alabama finished dead last in the SEC and 100th nationally in net punting average (41.38 yards per attempt), while enduring an up-and-down year rollercoaster of starting kicker Conor Talty, who converted just 69.6 percent of his field-goal attempts, a mark that ranked 109th among FBS programs, underscoring the urgency behind DeBoer's intent to reset the temps at those positions.
The pickup of Watford by DeBoer feels very optimistic, following the former Lions punter ability snag the United Athletic Conference Co-Specialist of the Year award last fall when averaging 42.3 yards per punt on 57 attempts for 2,411 yards. This production is refreshing in my opinion, in contrast to a year where Alabama punter Blake Doud recorded a net average of 39.5 yards for 2,201 yards on 52 total punts.
The same can be said for Quinn, after the Northern Ireland product received First‑Team All‑Sun Belt Conference honors by connecting on 21 of 26 field goal attempts for an impressive 80.8 percent success rate, along with converting on 38 of 39 extra point tries. In the midst of this, Quinn also set a program record with Marshall when with most single season FGs career longs of 55 and 53 yards. All while Alabama fans lobbied for Talty to be replaced in the process of his struggles, as he went 16 of 23 attempts, with a season-long of 48 yards.
Alabama could get a boost in the return game from a pair of unheralded recruits
Meanwhile, on the return side of things, Alabama ranked 12th in the SEC and 120th nationally with an average of 17.5 yards on kickoff returns. This low productivity carried over to punt return game, with the Tide accumulating a lonely eight yards per attempt, which ranked 12th in the conference and 79th nationally amongst all FBS competition.
These concerns grew worse when Alabama's former top punt returner, Cole Adams, took his talents to Nashville to join Vanderbilt via the portal. In my opinion and others, I would say DeBoer aimed to address this loss by acquiring dynamic freshman gems like 3-star prospects Aubrey Walker and Amari Sabb.
Alabama also could turn to talented wide receivers Lotzeir Brooks and Rico Scott. Brooks racked up 283 total yards on 15 kickoff attempts, while averaging 18.9 yards per attempt. Meanwhile, Scott showed promise as well in limited opportunities, recording an average of 11.7 yards per return on three attempts for 35 yards.
With this series of additions and emerging playmakers, Alabama is clearly signaling that its special teams will no longer be an afterthought. By pairing proven specialists like Watford, Quinn, and Strangle with promising young return talent such as Walker, Sabb, Brooks, and Scott, DeBoer is building the foundation for a unit that can flip field position, boost scoring opportunities, and stabilize late-game execution. If these moves pay off, the Tide’s special teams could transform from a glaring weakness into a hidden advantage—one that could quietly shape many outcomes and keep Alabama competitive this upcoming fall.