Why Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are leaning towards the right picks to handle punt and kickoff returns
On Saturday, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer revealed who the top options are to return punts and kickoffs this season.
Alabama is still trying to determine who its primary returners will be against Florida State in the season opener. Whether it’s punt returner or kick returner, multiple players remain an option for the Crimson Tide.
Following the team’s final scrimmage on Saturday afternoon, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was asked for a list of guys who competing for a job. Based on his response, there are three names that fans should be keeping an eye on as Aug. 30 approaches: wide receivers Cole Adams, Rico Scott and Jaylen Mbakwe.
“We haven’t decided on who the starter will be back there,” DeBoer told reporters. “Guys that did a good job a year ago – we got Cole back there, really in both, and he started out as our punt returner a year ago, and he’s done a nice job of just being steady.
“And then I think new faces, you’ve got Rico, probably on kickoff return, can do some things back there for us. And then (Jaylen Mbakwe) in both areas, as well. He and Cole, really, I think, can do both, and provide a combination of just consistency with fielding it, and then some explosiveness there, so I would start with those guys.”
Obviously, that trio makes sense. Adams is a reliable, steady presence as a punt returner while Mbakwe and Scott have the game-breaking ability as kick returners. Granted, we could see Mbakwe also help as a punt returner if Alabama decides it needs a little more juice back there, but this is likely where it’s going to end up by the opener.
With that being said, DeBoer won’t completely rule out some of the other, more established guys such as Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard.
“There’s more,” DeBoer said. “Ryan had great experience there last year. Had a couple of explosive plays, got thrown into action there when Bak went down through the season. I would have 100% confidence having Germie Bernard back there to field punts and things like that. That’s kind of the nuts and bolts of who we put back there.”
Last year, Alabama saw Kendrick Law and Emmanuel Henderson act as the primary kick return options. They each returned five apiece with Law taking his back for a total of 148 yards (29.6-yard average) and Henderson getting 107 yards on his returns (21.4). Granted, Williams (two for 14 yards), Adams (one for 33 yards) and Mbakwe (one for 15 yards) all three contributed as well.
Williams and Adams were the main two punt returns. According to Pro Football Focus, Adams averaged 5.3 yards on 11 returns while Williams averaged 10 yards on 12 returns. Mbakwe also added two punt returns of his own, which he turned in 28 total yards (14-yard average).
We’ve said numerous times that Adams and Mbakwe should be the two main return guys. They’re both expected to be a part of Alabama’s wide receiver rotation this fall, but neither are expected to have significant roles. Allowing them to make an impact on special teams, especially considering what they each bring to the table in that regard, would be mutually beneficial for both the players and Alabama.
