The Alabama Crimson Tide's spring training is heating up with a crucial showdown for the starting kicker position. It's a face-off between returning kicker Conor Talty and newcomer Lorcan Quinn, a transfer from Marshall.
Last season, Talty had his ups and downs. Despite a late-season surge, some critical misses, including a 28-yard field goal against Oklahoma, left Alabama pondering what might have been. That game ended with a narrow 23-21 loss, highlighting how every point counts in the high-stakes world of college football.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer weighed in on the decision to bring in Quinn to stir up some healthy competition. "When you bring in someone else, it’s open competition," DeBoer explained.
"Conor understands that. What impresses me about him is his determination to stay and fight for his spot.
He’s got the drive, and that's exactly what we need. Regardless of who wins, I’m confident we’ll have a strong kicker."
Talty wrapped up the 2025 season with a 69.6% success rate on field goals, nailing every extra point attempt. His longest successful kick was 48 yards, but he also had some misses, including a tough one from 26 yards.
On the other side, Quinn delivered a solid performance for Marshall, hitting 80.8% of his field goals and scoring 101 points over the season. His longest was an impressive 55-yarder, and he missed just five out of 26 attempts.
As spring training progresses, this kicker competition promises to be a thrilling battle. Talty is not backing down, and with both kickers showing potential, Alabama's special teams could be in for a strong season ahead.