Tag: Graham Nicholson

These two players could be key to Alabama’s success vs. Georgia

Both will likely be key in Alabama’s success against Georgia.

When taking a look at the Alabama Crimson Tide’s roster entering Saturday’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs, there are multiple players who may come to mind that could end up playing key roles during this Week 5 showdown.

Coming on both sides of the ball, the two that you might need to watch for in particular actual come on special teams in the duo of Graham Nicholson and James Burnip.

Nicholson, who transferred from Miami (OH) during the offseason, was the winner of the 2023 Lou Groza Award for the nation’s best kicker, and has so far been Alabama’s starter at the position through three games. Over three games, Nicholson is so far a perfect 19-for-19 on extra point attempts, but has missed his lone field goal attempt from 46 yards out.

Burnip however has been Alabama’s starting punter for four seasons now, and is off to a strong start to the year where he is averaging 46.5 yards per punt across three games.

Against the Bulldogs, Alabama will likely call on both of these players in key situations, whether that is to flip the field position, or make a field goal when needed.

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While time will ultimately tell on just how they perform in those situations, it’s clear that both Nicholson and Burnip will need to have big games for the Crimson Tide on Saturday.

ESPN’s 2024 preseason All-American team features three Alabama players

ESPNs 2024 preseason All-American team dominated by players from the SEC.

New additions to the coaching staff and a roster that changes by the year is nothing new for fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Under the guidance of legendary head coach Nick Saban, Alabama was basically replacing an offensive or defensive coordinator every year as well as backfilling around 10 to 15 NFL draft picks every year.

Due to Saban’s retirement and the popularity of the transfer portal, the 2024 Alabama team will look much different than a year ago. The expectations under Kalen DeBoer are still to win an SEC title and compete for a national title. Even though there were significant losses from the Alabama roster following the winter transfer portal window like Caleb Downs and Isaiah Bond, DeBoer has done a phenomenal job of getting the roster assembled.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the fact of the matter is there is a reason why the Crimson Tide is ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll despite the changes. DeBoer is coming off a year where he guided the Washington Huskies to a national title berth with a roster significantly less talented than what he’s working with in Tuscaloosa.

ESPN also shares my belief that the Crimson Tide will have one of the best rosters this year as they named three players to their 2024 college football preseason All-America team.

They project the offensive line will be the heart and soul of this Alabama team with both C Parker Brailsford and OG Tyler Booker both being named to the first team as well as K Graham Nicholson. LB Deontae Lawson and P Jamed Burnip were both projected to the second team.

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Several Alabama players named to USA TODAY Sports preseason college football All-America teams

Four Alabama players named to USA TODAY Sports preseason All-American teams.

We are just 19 days away from the start of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s 2024 football season, which also marks the beginning of the Kalen DeBoer era. The Crimson Tide will open the season in primetime fashion as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers come to Title Town on August 31st.

With the legend Nick Saban departing and DeBoer incoming, there was some turnover on the roster, but as the dust has settled, the Crimson Tide still boasts one of the top teams in the nation. Alabama did lose some awesome talent in the transition such as Isaiah Bond and Caleb Downs, but keeping Jalen Milroe and a few other core pieces will be enough to allow the Tide to compete for an SEC title.

USA TODAY Sports released their preseason All-American first and second teams which included a total of four members of the Crimson Tide.

The first-team includes former Washington Huskies C Parker Brailsford who came to Alabama with DeBoer as well as former Miami (OH) K Graham Nicholson who will fill the void of Will Reichard. OG Tyler Booker and LB Deontae Lawson were named to the second team.

Caleb Downs, the former Alabama standout turned Buckeye, was also nominated to the first team.

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Alabama kicker Graham Nicholson named to Lou Groza watch list

Alabama’s newest addition is seeking to go back-to-back in 2024.

A new face to the program this season, Alabama Crimson Tide senior kicker Graham Nicholson has been named to the 2024 Lou Groza Award preseason watch list.

The Lou Groza Award, which Nicholson previously won last season while at Miami (OH), recognizes the top kicker in college football annually.

An accomplished collegiate kicker, Nicholson has spent each the past three seasons at Miami (OH) where he holds career totals of 97-of-104 on extra points, as well as 60-of-71 on field goals. Nicholson is also coming off a stellar 2023 season that led to the now senior winning the Lou Groza Award, as mentioned previously, in which he was 35-of-37 on extra points, as well as 27-of-28 on field goals.

Expected to be the starting kicker for the Crimson Tide this season, Alabama has never had a player win the Lou Groza Award. Could that be set to change later this season with Nicholson?

Four Alabama players named preseason All-Americans by Walter Camp Football Foundation

Quartet of Alabama football players land on Walter Camp Football Foundation preseason All-American team

June was a busy month on the recruiting trail for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and now that we’ve officially made it to July, the college football season is just around the corner and that means preseason watch lists and rankings will be dropping daily.

On Monday, the Walter Camp Football Foundation released its 2024 preseason All-Americans and Alabama landed four players on the two-deep.

Tyler Booker and Graham Nicholson earned first-team honors while Parker Brailsford and James Burnip earned spots on the second-team.

Booker and Prailsford make up two-thirds of one of the best interior offensive lines in the country while Nicholson and Burnip combine for the top specialist duo.

Stay connected to Roll Tide Wire for more coverage of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

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Alabama football in the lead to land elite transfer kicker

Has Alabama found its replacement for Will Reichard?

One of the areas of concern entering the 2024 season for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team is who will be replacing Will Reichard as placekicker in Tuscaloosa.

Reichard is the NCAA’s all-time leader in points scored and was one of the most consistent kickers in college football history.

Well, Coach DeBoer and company may have found Reichard’s replacement and I am not sure you could have scripted a better one.

According to Pete Nakos of On3, Alabama has become the clubhouse leader to land Graham Nicholson a recent addition to the transfer portal via Miami Ohio.

If the name sounds familiar, it should. Nicholson beat out Reichard in 2023 for the Lou Groza Award which is given to the nation’s top placekicker.

A first-team All-American in 2023, he connected on 27 of his 28 field goal attempts. Nicholson connected on 25 straight field goals during the season, setting a record for consecutive attempts.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Nicholson’s decision throughout the process and will provide any updates as they become available.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.