Alabama kicker Will Reichard becomes college football’s all-time points leader
Will Reichard kicked his way atop the college football history books on Saturday.
The Alabama kicker became the NCAA all-time points leader against Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship. He overtook Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds’ previous high of 530 points, set in 2015, with a field goal kick in first quarter inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A native of Hoover, Alabama, Reichard returned to the Tide for a fifth season and has made the most of it, continuing to set records. He redefined the kicking position during his tenure in Tuscaloosa. A position that drew more headaches than glory saw Reichard eventually earn the loudest cheers of nearly any player during home game introductions.
Before facing the Bulldogs, Reichard had converted 80 of 96 career field goals and all but two of his 290 extra-point attempts. He needs four more field goals to surpass Leigh Tiffin’s 83 field goals made in a UA uniform. Reichard already owns the record of most 50-yard field goals in program history with eight.
From his consistency to filling in for injured punter James Burnip at Texas A&M, Reichard has made his claim as the best special teams player in program history. Head coach Nick Saban has likened Reichard to an “assassin” and a consummate professional.
Reichard earned the SEC career points record on Oct. 14 against Arkansas. In his final game in Bryant-Denny Stadium last weekend against Chattanooga, he set the program record with the eighth 50-yard field goal of his career. Against Auburn in last weekend’s Iron Bowl, Reichard tied Reynolds’ record.
“I think when my career’s over I’ll really care about it, but right now, not too concerned about it honestly,” Reichard told reporters on Nov. 14. “I’m more focused being able to play will this week and kind of continue to prepare to play well and continue to practice well, continue to grow.”
Reichard has made 18 of 21 field goal tries this fall, only missing a pair against LSU and a field goal against Auburn. He’s also averaging the longest kickoffs of his career (63.6 yards per kick), after withdrawing from the NFL Draft last spring to improve his touchback rate.
Reichard’s Alabama career will extend at least one more weekend as the Tide will have a bowl game. His 43-yard attempt made it 7-3 Georgia as the Tide pushed for a College Football Playoff berth.
