Alabama Football Special Teams will be the SEC's best

The 2024 Alabama football schedule has plenty of challenge. A successful season will likely come down to winning a few close contests. Close contests often come down to which team wins the kicking game. In that game component, the Crimson Tide has an advantage over the rest of the SEC.

No SEC football team can match Alabama's special team units. One reason is the Crimson Tide is loaded with young talent that will only see action on special teams. It is no secret that Alabama Football has college football's deepest roster of talent. Linebackers, defensive backs, and other athletically gifted players waiting their turn for bigger roles become special teams' mainstays.

Special teams units have many key positions, some of which get little attention from fans. Fans scrutinize five key positions: placekicker, punter, long snapper, kick returner, and punt returner. No SEC team can match Alabama at those five spots.

Three Alabama Football Specialists

At placekicker, Miami of Ohio transfer Graham Nicholson succeeds Will Reichard. Nicholson was the 2023 Lou Groza Award winner, making 27 of 28 field goal attempts. The only SEC placekicker who can be compared to Nicholson is Auburn's Alex McPherson. McPherson was perfect last season making all 13 of his field goal attempts. A medical issue could cause him to miss games in the coming season.

James Burnip will be the SEC's top punter. Burnip was No. 5 among all FBS punters last season with an average of 47.56 yards. Vandy's Matthew Hayball averaged 47.6 yards last season and is now in the NFL. The Ray Guy Award Watch List has not been announced, but Burnip will be one of the favorites to win.

Alabama Crimson Tide long snapper, Kneeland Hibbett is already on the 2024 Watch List for the Patrick Mannelly Award. Eight SEC players are on the list, but Kneeland is arguably the best.

At least a half dozen Alabama speedsters could earn the starting kick returner, and punt returner roles. Kendrick Law is believed to lead as kick returner. Law has an impressive combination of speed and power. If not Law, Washington transfer Germie Bernard could be the guy. The field is more open for punt returner. Bernard might lead, but Emmanuel Henderson could earn the role. It could even go to one of the Crimson Tide's impressive freshmen; especially wide receiver phenom, Ryan Williams.

In defining special teams game-changers; no SEC team has more than the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Note" Player stats provided by cfbstats.com