Alabama's 2025 recruiting class includes two elite specialists

Alabama enters 2024 with some of the best specialists in college football. That trend, which began under Nick Saban with guys like Will Reichard and James Burnip, seems like it will continue under Kalen DeBoer. In the midst of a recruiting heater, Coach DeBoer has landed one of the best kicker-punter combos in the 2025 class. 

Punter Alex Asparuhov committed to the Crimson Tide on June 15th during his visit to Tuscaloosa. The Fresno, California native chose the Tide over Florida, Oklahoma, and Fresno State. Asparuhov was followed closely by kicker Peter Notaro, who committed to Bama on July 3rd. Notaro, who hails from Pittsburgh, picked Alabama over offers from Ohio State, West Virginia, Pitt, and more. 

Kohl’s Kicking is one of the more reliable ranking systems for specialists, though it carries the caveat that players must attend a Kohl’s camp to be evaluated and ranked. Kohl’s considers both Asparuhov and Notaro to be 5-stars at their respective positions. 

Kohl’s ranks Notaro as the 4th-best kicker in the country and indicates that he will be accepting a preferred walk-on offer to attend Alabama. With the anticipated departure of Graham Nicholson following the 2024 season, Notaro will join a kicker room that includes another former highly-touted recruit in Conor Talty. Talty will be a redshirt sophomore when Notaro arrives on campus. 

Kohl’s calls Asparuhov the 3rd-best punter in the 2025 cycle, saying he “may be the most fundamentally sound punter in the class.” Asparuhov could be tasked with replacing standout punter James Burnip if he proves to be college ready next fall. 

Both players have shown some degree of versatility with the ability to placekick and punt, though they both have their clear respective strengths.

The bottom line is that Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are restocking their specialist rooms and should continue to have very effective kicking units for the foreseeable future.