Alabama Lands Award-Winning Kicker

Special teams, special plays, special players. It was the one phase of football that seemed to plague Nick Saban and Alabama during his dynasty with the Crimson Tide. Alabama's one fault was their kicking game, and it arguably cost them a national championship run in 2013 with the infamous "Kick-Six."

Get our free mobile app

Then, Crimson Tide fans worried no more when Will Reichard took over as the Tide's kicker his freshman season in 2019. When Alabama won the national championship in 2020, Reichard did not miss a single kick that season, causing Alabama fans around the world to rejoice that Alabama may have finally solved their kicking concerns.

Now, in 2024, Reichard is off to the NFL to showcase his talents to the league, and Alabama fans felt those kicking concerns creep back into their minds. Reichard became the NCAA All-time points leader in 2024 before departing for the league, and Alabama fans had concerns about the next man up on the roster. Those concerns were compounded when Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said the Tide was hosting an "open competition" at kicker during spring practice.

Alabama's annual A-Day scrimmage did nothing to stall the fears of fans. Conor Talty, the person who was supposed to replace Reichard, missed a 45-yard field goal during the scrimmage. The other kickers on Alabama's roster did not attempt a kick over 30 yards.

Alabama was linked to a kicker in the portal, and they now have their man. The Crimson Tide has landed a commitment from Graham Nicholson from Miami of Ohio, per his X (Formerly Twitter) account.

Nicholson, a junior, made 27/28 kicks during the 2023 campaign, with his longest field goal being 52 yards. He went 35/37 on extra points for the Redhawks.

If that name sounds familiar to Crimson Tide fans, it should. Nicholson won the Lou Groza Award, handed out to the best kicker in college football annually, in 2023. Reichard was also a finalist for the award.