Special teams can be the forgotten member of football’s three phases.
During his tenure as Alabama’s head coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant emphasized special teams. The Crimson Tide started its first two matchups of the season without a special teams touchdown, but it changed against Louisiana-Monroe. Will Reichard and James Burnip excelled in the kicking game; however, the Tide broke a 75-year-old record for punt return yards in school history.
Alabama totaled 262 return yards versus the Warhawks in a 63-7 victory. Kool-Aid McKinstry, a sophomore, averaged 27 yards per punt return. The second-year cornerback kept the Crimson Tide’s offense in great field position.