Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama is set to resume spring practices on Monday as the Crimson Tide prepares for A-Day on April 11. Meanwhile, battles for starting roles are intensifying across the roster in Tuscaloosa, including an ongoing kicker competition between Conor Talty and transfer Lorcan Quinn.
Why Kalen DeBoer Shows Unwavering Faith in Conor Talty for 2026
Talty chose to return to Alabama for the 2026 season instead of entering the transfer portal and is now battling Quinn for the starting kicker role, who arrived in Tuscaloosa after playing the 2025 season with Marshall.
DeBoer made it clear on Saturday that the job is up for grabs.
“When you bring in someone else, it’s an open competition,” DeBoer said. “I mean, it’s pretty obvious to Conor that that’s the case. What I love about Connor is he didn’t shy away from it and decided to stay here. He knew he had plenty of time to leave if he wanted to. He wanted to stay here. He’s got it in him; just continue to battle, and like that competition there.
“I think we’re gonna be good. I know we’re gonna be good no matter who it is and whoever wins out, because both of them have a pretty high ceiling.”
Talty became Alabama’s primary kicker last season, and he faced criticism from fans and was booed after missing a 28-yard field goal against Eastern Illinois in a 56-0 win. He was again met with boos when he returned for an extra point in the second quarter.
The dissatisfaction followed a missed game-tying field goal against Oklahoma. Talty was seen shouting at long snapper David Bird while leaving the field following the missed kick, and DeBoer later addressed the interaction.
“We’re all competitive, and those guys are competitive,” DeBoer said. “And they want to make that kick and have the execution be at a high level. And every single one of those guys are always taking ownership. But obviously, in that moment, Conor’s a competitive guy, and he knows how important those points are.
“And the response and everything like that, not exactly what you want, but it’s also an understanding of how important it is to these guys. They work together relentlessly in practice. I see it. There’s a cohesiveness that these guys have. And so, in the locker room, I think they got that resolved very quickly after the fact and were ready to go out there and execute more throughout the game.”
However, Talty rebounded and finished the season by making all five of his remaining field goal attempts. He converted 16 of 23 attempts on the year and ended the season on a strong note.
Meanwhile, Quinn will enter the competition with solid credentials of his own, having made 21 of 26 field goal attempts last season. With both kickers showing promise, it remains uncertain who will secure the role, but Alabama appears well-positioned either way. According to PFSN projections, the Crimson Tide currently holds a 33.3% chance of making the College Football Playoff in 2026.
