Will Reichard on last game in Alabama uniform: ‘It’s meant the world’
One of the greatest careers in Alabama football history ended on Monday night in Pasadena, Calif.
Kicker Will Reichard, who returned for one final, record-setting fifth season booted during No. 4 UA’s back-and-forth 27-20 overtime loss to No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
Reichard ended his career, expectedly, with two makes. He launched a 50-yarder through the uprights in the second quarter after Tide quarterback Jaln Milroe was sacked on third down. Then, in what was supposed to be UA’s putaway drive, Reichard sunk a 52-yard try, tying a career-long and giving Alabama a 20-13 lead.
In a somber Alabama locker room postgame, Reichard talked about the end of his time in Tuscaloosa.
“It’s meant the world. I mean, playing for Alabama, having that ‘A’ on my chest, you couldn’t ask for a better with the biggest brand in college football. It’s been an honor playing here for sure,” Reichard said.
Will Reichard (16) walks off the field after Alabama’s loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Alabama Crimson Tide football plays the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday Jan. 1, 2024. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan
Reichard arrived on campus in 2019, the start of a five-year run that changed the narrative around Alabama kickers being the one position Nick Saban’s dynasty couldn’t produce. Reichard won the starting job in 2019, didn’t miss in 2020, led the SEC in 2021, hit Alabama’s first game-winner in 17 years in 2022 and set the Tide record for 50-yard makes (10) this fall.
Reichard also owns the record for most points by a college football player (547 points). The next closest active player is North Carolina State’s Brayden Narveson (409).
Out of Hoover High, Reichard became a quick fan favorite. Not just of the Bryant-Denny Stadium faithful, but of his head coach Nick Saban. When Reichard missed a pair against Kentucky in November, Saban was confident in Reichard identifying whatever issues himself.
“When we start telling guys like Will Reichard how to do what he does, it probably can mess him up more than it can help him,” Saban quipped then.
Said Saban in August: “Will’s been as good a college kicker over the last 2-3 years as anybody could ever ask for.”
Reichard opted into and out of the Senior Bowl last year. He’ll be headed back to Mobile to impress NFL scouts and representatives. He made 22 out of 25 field goal attempts in 2023, including some punting duties with James Burnip injured at Texas A&M.
Next year, Alabama will have Conor Talty handle place-kicking duties. Reichard and Talty shared a hug in the locker room, a torch passing.
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].