Alabama working several players as possible punt, kickoff returners

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama welcomes back all three of its specialists from last year’s team, and Kool-Aid McKinstry should once again return punts after a successful 2022 campaign.

But Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban shared some other options behind McKinstry.

“We’ve got Kool-Aid back, who averaged like 16 yards of punt return last year, and we’re trying to develop some other guys at that position,” Saban said. “Isaiah Bond, Caleb Downs can catch punts, Cole Adams can catch punts. So we’re working with more and more guys to be able to do that.” 

Last season, McKinstry fielded 21 of Alabama’s 27 returned punts and racked up 333 yards for an average of 15.86 yards per return. His whopping 333 yards were the most in the SEC and second among all FBS returners, while his 15.86 average was the highest in the league and the second-best among players who recorded 1.2 returns per game this past season.

Bond returned one punt during his freshman year in 2022, and it was one to remember. It was against ULM in Week 3 of the season, one where a lot of Alabama players saw success in the return game, and Bond returned that kick 34 yards. Downs and Adams are both true freshmen but were among those back deep during the Tide’s only open practice on Aug. 5.

McKinstry is likely to be the first player back whenever Middle Tennessee punts in the season opener on Sept. 2, but Alabama also has a few young options behind the star cornerback.

As for kickoff returns, a couple of second-year wide receivers have been fielding kicks.

“Kickoff return, (Kendrick Law) did it last year some, (Emmanuel Henderson) did it some,” Saban said. “We’ll just have to see how that part of it develops, but I think we’ve got enough good skill guys that we should be able to come up with some pretty good return guys.”

Alabama has to replace its top kickoff returner from last year’s squad with Jahmyr Gibbs turning pro after the 2022 season. Gibbs returned 13 kickoffs for 258 yards during his lone year with the Crimson Tide, averaging a team-high 19.85 yards per return. Ja’Corey Brooks was oftentimes back deep along with Gibbs and returned seven kickoffs for 106 yards (15.14 ypr).

The only other Alabama player to return a kickoff during the 2022 season was Henderson, who had an 8-yard return in the victory over Austin Peay. Henderson could prove to be UA’s primary return man this fall with Law as his lead blocker, which would fit his playing personality.

“K-Law is aggressive, but I like his whole play style,” Brooks said. “He’s a young kid, still developing as well. But he’s gonna have a unique type of play style. He’s going to bring his own type of game into the group. Everybody’s got their own type of skill set. That’s just help us at receiver, we all take from each other. K-Law’s got a lot to bring to the table.”

Veteran kicker Will Reichard said an area of focus for him ahead of his fifth and final season is to improve on kickoffs, where half of his 94 boots resulted in touchbacks last year. Reichard did not get specific when asked about the return game, but he has faith in his teammates.

“To be honest with you, I don’t really pay much attention to who is catching the ball,” Reichard said. “I really try to focus on hitting as far and high as I can. We’re going to have someone who’s real explosive returning kicks and punts for us. We always do. We have a lot of talented guys.”

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