Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The Alabama Crimson Tide is preparing to head into Jordan-Hare Stadium for the Iron Bowl with problems at the kicker position.
It’s been a rough season on this front for Kalen DeBoer and company, and really a rough two years since having to replace Will Reichard. After bringing in the reigning Lou Groza Award winner in Graham Nicholson last year before Nicholson struggled to an inconsistent year in 2024.
Replacing Nicholson was longtime backup Connor Talty this year, and the results have been mixed at best and have trended in the wrong direction as of late. After missing a big kick against Oklahoma last week in an eventual two-point loss and having a controversial conflict with his long snapper, Talty missed another chip shot against Eastern Illinois this past weekend.
On the year, Talty has now made just 11 of his 18 field goal attempts and most concerningly just two of the four attempts from within 30 yards. In the second half, DeBoer gave three new kickers extra point attempts, but it has become clear that he’s going to stick with Talty as his main field goal kicker moving forward.
After the game, DeBoer defended his kicker and reacted to fans booing, asking them to have Talty’s back like he knows the locker room does.
“I wish they’d have his back like I know our locker room has his back,” DeBoer said. “He’s trying everything, he’s working hard, he had a great week of practice. I don’t think he missed one all week…he’s gonna keep plugging away and we want to support him. He’s just like every other player on our football team and giving it everything he has.”
Though Talty has at times shown promise, obviously the consistency has been nowhere near where it needs to be. Whether or not the strategy on kicking field goals in general changes next week at Auburn remains to be seen. But it’s safe to say fans are not going to feel confidently about the kicking game, especially in a place where they struggle historically.
Headed into the Iron Bowl, this is unquestionably now a narrative. Time will tell if Alabama gets burned by the kicking game yet again in Jordan-Hare Stadium where every point will count.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
