5x5: The Best Alabama Specialists During the Nick Saban Era

Five different ways to rate the top players at each position for the Crimson Tide during the greatest dynasty in college football history.

Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports

This is one of those statistics that helps make you realize just how impressive the Alabama Crimson Tide dynasty has been under Nick Saban. 

When Alabama pulled out the 20-19 victory at Texas, during Week 2 of the 2022 college football season, on a 33-yard field goal by Will Reichard with 10 seconds remaining on the clock, it was win No. 210 for the coach with the Crimson Tide, dating back to when he took over in 2007. 

However, it was his first victory at Alabama on a game-winning field goal in the last 30 seconds of a game. It was also the first for the Crimson Tide since the 2005 season, when Jamie Christensen hit a low, spinning line drive from a career-best 45 yards to secure the 12-10 victory against Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. 

Christensen, who kept a dollar bill in his sock, was known as "Money" as he made three game-winning field goals during that 10-2 season, the others being in the 13-10 victory over Ole Miss, and the 6-3 no-touchdown win over Tennessee.

Not too many teams have been within three points of the Crimson Tide under Saban, although the man who was on the winning side of "The Bluegrass Miracle" when he was at LSU, and Rocky Block, did famously try to win a game on a last-second field goal with the Crimson Tide on Nov. 30, 2013.

It's a date that most Alabama fans have tried to forget. No. 1 Alabama was at No. 4 Auburn for the 78th Iron Bowl, and with 32 seconds remaining the Tigers managed to tie the game at 28. With a spot in the SEC Championship Game, and maybe the national title game on the line, the Crimson Tide aimed for a quick rally only to have the clock apparently run out, sending the game to overtime. But Saban challenged the ruling and following a video review one second was put back on the clock. 

If you don't know what happened next, on the 57-yard field goal attempt by freshman Adam Griffith, go ask an Auburn fan. He or she will be more than happy to tell the story of the "Kick Six."

The Best Alabama Specialists of the Nick Saban Era

Five different ways to rate the top players at each position for the Crimson Tide during the greatest dynasty in college football history.

Recruiting

The top 5 special-teams prospects when signing with the Crimson Tide:

Kickers

1. Jay Williams, 2010
2. Adam Griffith, 2012
3. Will Reichard, 2019
4. J.K Scott, 2014
5. Joseph Bulovas, 2017

Alabama Athletics

Punters 

1. Corey Smith, 2008
2. Skyer DeLong, 2018

Long snappers 

• Cole Mazza, 2013
• Thomas Fetcher, 2017

Statistics

For the most part we're not including return specialists in this evaluation as they're also position players, but they are more than deserving of being mentioned. 

Kickoff return average (season, minimum 10 returns) 

1. Jameson Williams (352 yards, 10 returns), 2021, 35.2
2. Josh Jacobs (428 yards, 14 returns), 2018, 30.6
3. Javier Arenas (551 yards, 19 returns), 2009, 29.0
4. Christion Jones (631 yards, 22 returns), 2013, 28.7

Kickoff return average (career, minimum 15 returns)

1. Trent Richardson (697 yards, 27 returns), 2009-11, 25.8
2. Christion Jones (1,727 yards, 68 returns), 2011-14, 25.4

Note: Harry Gilmer holds the Alabama record (574 yards, 20 returns), 1944-47, 28.7

John David Mercer / USA Today Sports

Punt return average (season, minimum 10 returns) 

1. Eddie Jackson (11 returns, 253 yards), 2016, 23.0
2. DeVonta Smith (11 returns, 237 yards), 2020, 21.5

Punt return average (season, minimum 20 returns)

1. Jaylen Waddle (20 returns, 487 yards), 2019, 24.4
2. David Palmer (24 returns, 386 yards), 1991, 16.1 
3. Javier Arenas (41 returns, 650 yards), 2008, 15.9

Punt return average (career)

1.  Jaylen Waddle (38 returns, 733 yards), 2018-20, 19.3 
2. Javier Arenas (125 returns, 1,752 yards), 2006-09, 14.1
3. Marquis Maze (56 returns, 711 yards), 2008-11, 12.7

Punt returns for a touchdown (career) 

1. Javier Arenas, 2006-09, 7
2. Cyrus Jones, 2012-15, 4

Note: Arenas had two punt returns for touchdowns in 2006 before Nick Saban arrived. 

Kick returns for a touchdown (Career)

1. Christion Jones, 2011-14, 2
2. Jameson Williams, 2021, 2

Awards

First-team All-Americans

1. Leigh Tiffin, 2009 (K)
2. J.K. Scott, 2014 (P)
3. Jaylen Waddle, 2019 (RS)

T.G. Paschal/BamaCentral

SEC Special Teams Player of the Year

2009 Javier Arenas (RS)
2013 Christion Jones (RS)
2019 Jaylen Waddle (RS)
2021 Jameson Williams (RS)

NFL Draft

Alabama's had a few specialists playing in the NFL during the Nick Saban era at Alabama, but only two were selected in an NFL draft:

JK Scott, punter, Green Bay Packers, 2018, fifth round
Thomas Fletcher, long snapper, Carolina Panthers, 2021, sixth round

Alabama has only had one kicker selected in the NFL draft, and two other punters. Fletcher is the lone long-snapper to have been drafted. 

Overall

1. JK Scott
2. Will Reichard 
3. Leigh Tiffin 
4. Adam Griffith
5. Cole Mazza/Thomas Fetcher/Carson Tinker 

This is the fifth story in the 5x5 series, which will continue throughout July. Check out:

Offense

Centers
Tackles

Defense 

Defensive ends
Cornerbacks