Alabama's veteran specialists helping newcomers adjust to college level
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama welcomed back all three of its specialists from last year’s team, including veteran placekicker Will Reichard, who returned for a fifth season. Reichard will again handle field goals, extra points and kickoffs for the Crimson Tide in what will be his final year on campus, but he also has an opportunity to help teach the player to replace him.
As part of its 2023 recruiting class, Alabama signed kicker Conor Talty out of Chicago, who was expected to compete for the top placekicker role had Reichard followed through with his initial decision to turn pro after the 2022 season. Now back, Reichard has tried to help teach Talty the ropes while also allowing the true freshman specialist to feel things out for himself.
“He’s honestly got a lot of talent,” Reichard said. “Coming in as a summer enrollee, it took him a little bit of time to get adjusted as it does for everybody. I’m excited to teach him things but also let him kind of figure out some things on his own I think is important, too.
“Everybody is going to be different, everybody is going to have their different mannerisms. Everybody is going to want to go about their day and practice differently. I am for sure going to give him tips for things I do in my routine, but he’s also going to have some things he likes to do himself, as well.”
A 6-foot-1, 195-pound freshman, Talty was the nation’s No. 4 kicker in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. Kohl’s Kicking ranked the Saint Rita (Ill.) High School product as a 5-star placekicker as well as a 4.5-star punter after he played both for the Mustangs.
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Alabama does not have a freshman punter on its 2023 roster – although several of the kickers, like Talty, can do both. Much like returning starter James Burnip, however, the Tide does have a few international players on the team, like sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Hastings, who is from Canada, and freshman offensive lineman Olaus Alinen, who hails from Finland.
Alinen was rated an On300 recruit in the 2022 class after finishing his high school career at The Loomis Chaffey (Conn.) School but is originally from Pori, Finland. In fall camp, Alinen has seen some reps with UA’s second-team offensive line, working primarily at guard, and being the latest player to join Alabama from overseas, Burnip has tried to help the newcomer adjust.
“I came here and it was me and (John) Metchie, who was from Canada,” Burnip said. “He sort of like talked to me when I first got here and sort of like showed me how to work around all the international stuff we have to worry about. And now with Olaus here, I’m sort of doing the same thing with him. It’s always nice to hear a different accent instead of an American one sometimes.”
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