5. Will Reichard (K/Hoover, AL) – 3 Stars
The only non-blue chip prospect in Alabama’s 2019 signing class is also the most obvious candidate to earn a starting role as a true freshman.
Everyone is well aware of Alabama’s longstanding kicking issues, and Reichard, the nation’s No. 1 ranked kicker, will be tasked with finally fixing the one chink in Saban’s dynastic armor, just as long as he doesn’t develop the same yips that have plagued numerous highly regarded kickers when they’ve donned the crimson and white.
As bad as the kicking game has been over the years, it was never worse than in 2018 when redshirt freshman Joseph Bulovas teamed with Temple graduate transfer Austin Jones to miss nine extra points on the season.
Jones missed three in the first two games and was benched for Bulovas, who subsequently missed six of his 81 attempts over the course of the season. Bulovas was solid on field-goal kicking, however, connecting on 14-of-18 attempts, hitting his last six attempts and 10 of his final 11 after a rocky start.
Bulovas’ struggles on converting simple extra points is the main impetus for why the job will be up for grabs throughout the offseason.
Reichard enrolled early to get a jump-start on the competition, and the Hoover native will be given every opportunity to win the job. Reichard also punted in high school, and could factor into the punting competition after freshman Skyler DeLong and walk-on Mike Bernier struggled to replace departed All-American J.K. Scott.
If Reichard is the real deal as advertised, he’ll instantly be the most popular Alabama player on campus in the non-Tua division.