The Alabama Crimson Tide football team wrapped up the spring a couple of weeks ago with the annual A-Day Game from inside beautiful Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. As the Kalen DeBoer era of Alabama football gets underway, questions and concerns have surfaced as he attempts to replace the GOAT, Nick Saban.
Maybe one concern that isn't brought up nearly as much as the offensive line or the secondary is who will be replacing the legendary Will Reichard as the Crimson Tide's placekicker. Reichard is the NCAA's all-time leader in points scored and made several clutch kicks for Alabama throughout his five-year career in Tuscaloosa. Needless to say, it will not be easy for Coach DeBoer to replace the consistency that Reichard brought to the often undervalued role.
On Sunday evening Alabama landed an elite placekicker from the transfer portal. Graham Nicholson of Miami (Ohio) won the Lou Groza award in 2023, defeating the Tide's Reichard as the nation's top placekicker.
I am willing to bet the addition of Nicholson for Coach DeBoer and Alabama will not receive the proper response from fans across the country. Nicholson a first-team All-American in 2023, connected on 27 of his 28 field goal attempts. Nicholson also connected on 25 straight field goals during the season, setting a record for consecutive attempts.
Alabama certainly has other areas of concern entering the 2024 season but there are ways to hide issues along the offensive but there is no hiding a poor and inconsistent kicker. Adding Nicholson instantly give the Crimson Tide arguably the nation's top kicker and points on the board.
With Coach DeBoer replacing Nick Saban, fans across the country have prematurely begin to celebrate the demise of Alabama football. All that DeBoer has done in his time is secure some elite talent from the high school ranks and the transfer portal.
Adding an elite kicker might not break the internet, but with the elite talent already on offensive and defensive sides of the ball, it could be enough to catapult Alabama back to the top of the college football world.