re: is it time to start looking thru DII schools for Punter?

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Saban noted that Australian punters, which have taken over the position in college football, are especially skilled at rugby punts. And even UA thought about adding one to its roster this offseason.

“We actually had 12 of them come here and work out, and we chose to go with the freshman rather than take an Australian guy,” Saban said. “But those guys that play rugby and soccer now, they can control the ball a lot better than an American punter can.”

DeLong was the nation’s No. 4 punter in the 2018 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite. In his fourth game in an Alabama uniform, the freshman averaged 36.0 yards per punt with a long of 52 yards -- thanks to a home-team roll -- and a short of 13 yards.

Among punters that have played in 75 percent of their teams’ games and have a minimum of 3.6 punts per game played, DeLong ranks last in the SEC and 89th out of 90 nationally with an average of 35.93 yards per punt. That’s more than seven yards less than JK Scott’s 42.96 average last year and more than 12 yards less than Scott’s stellar freshman numbers (48.0).

But what DeLong lacks in confidence in himself, Saban makes up for in his confidence in DeLong. “The thing about Skyler is he’s been a lot better in practice and done a good job in practice and actually had a really good week in practice last week,” Saban said. “We know he’s capable.

“I just think that maybe his confidence in the game is not what he needs it to be right now, and I think we need to support him and try to help him develop the consistency in game situations that will allow him to have success. And we certainly need for him to do that.”

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