Perfect kicker Will Reichard returns for Alabama football, but who's going to punt?

If Alabama football could copy and paste kicker Will Reichard's 2020 season to 2021, it probably would. 

He was literally perfect, making 84 of 84 extra points and 14 of 14 field goal attempts. In the process, he finished as a finalist for the Lou Groza award, given to the nation's top placekicker.

The only true competition for specialists exists at punter and long snapper. 

Here's a look at the specialists as Alabama gets ready to start fall practices on Friday, July 6. 

Specialists

Departed starters: Long snapper Thomas Fletcher (drafted by the Carolina Panthers), punter Charlie Scott 

Returning placekickers: Chase Allen (sophomore), Will Reichard (junior)

Returning punters: Sam Johnson (sophomore), Ty Perine (junior)

Returning long snappers: None

Additions: James Burnip (redshirt freshman punter), Kneeland Hibbett (freshman long snapper), Jack Martin (junior punter), Reid Schuback (freshman kicker), Carter Short (freshman long snapper)

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Analysis: Alabama has to replace Fletcher, the rare draft pick at long snapper. Hibbett and Short are the only two long snappers listed in the 2021 media guide. They will compete to see who gets Fletcher's spot. At punter, there are a few more folks competing for one spot. Perine returns and has starting experience from 2019.

Johnson is also back at punter, but the two additions could both have good shots at winning the starting spot. The Crimson Tide added Burnip and Martin. Burnip is an Australian punter who de-committed from Ole Miss in June and immediately joined the Crimson Tide. Prokicker.com rated him as a 4.5-star punter. Martin joins Alabama from Troy. Originally from Dothan, Martin finished 2020 with a 46.1-yard average on punts with 13 inside the 20 and a long of 66 yards. Whoever wins the job out of camp isn't necessarily locked in for the entire season, either. We could see several of these punters during the season, depending on how they perform. 

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