For the past couple of seasons, special teams play at Alabama has been treated like a supporting act — important, but rarely central to the conversation until something goes bad. It's been like a movie with elite actors and a strong script, but poor editing. The talent is obvious, but if the transitions are off, the timing is sloppy, and key scenes don't land, the entire film feels incomplete — no matter how good the plot is.
But in 2026, that can't be the case, because what Alabama is building on offense and defense won't fully function with it. Especially when taking into consideration the youth and moving pieces across their roster this spring on both sides of the football, special teams becomes less of a background detail and more of a stabilizing force. Alabama returned a mix of inexperienced starters, while adding a few specialists through the Transfer portal but like all things, that continuity takes time to gel.
Since Kalen DeBoer took over in 2024, the numbers in this department reflect that reality. In 2025, Alabama's punt return unit averaged just 8.46 yards per return, with no touchdowns, while opponents gained nearly 9.9 yards per attempt against the Tide. Kickoff returns fared only slightly better, with Alabama averaging 17.05 yards per return to opponents' 17.27 yards. These marginal differences may seem small on paper because in tight games, every yard in field position matters, and the Tide's special teams often left points on the table.
Those numbers illustrate exactly why DeBoer has already begun to stress the importance of improving in this phase.
Kalen DeBoer knows Alabama must be better in the third phase in 2026
"Special teams is an area where we had a lot of turnover with specialists in particular, but also the guys that were making the tackles and making blocks from year one to year two, 24 to 25, a lot of new faces in those areas," DeBoer said. "So some more familiarity with guys who are out there... I think our return game is a scenario we can definitely improve on... it's those one plays here or there that we can't give up."
This early assessment by DeBoer should be even more important to Crimson Tide fans, especially given that Alabama is ushering in a new quarterback center with zero starting experience, along with an offensive line with four brand new starters.
Whether that guy is Austin Mack or Keelon Russell, the goal has to be setting up with the best field position possible consistently. Which is why this message is clear: talent alone won't solve the Tide's third-phase issues. To truly maximize what this roster can do on offense and defense, the third phase must become a strength, not an afterthought, this fall.