JK Scott

At Alabama, even the punters are NFL prospects. Scott signed with the Crimson Tide as one of the more highly specialists in the country, choosing Alabama over Notre Dame, Arizona and the local Colorado Buffaloes. It didn't take Scott long to more than live up to expectations, simply leading the nation with a 48.0-yards-per-punt average to earn first team All-American by Sporting News, ESPN and USA Today, not to mention First Team All-SEC honors and be one of three finalists for the prestigious Ray Guy Award. Scott's number of punts jumped to 70 (after 55 the year earlier) in 2015 but his average gained dropped to 44.2. Part of the reason for his drop in average may have been the fact that Scott developed greater touch, forcing 18 fair catches and pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line on 25 of his punts. His average (47.2) bounced back up in 2016 with 25 punts traveling at least 50 yards and seven going for more than 60. Scott's average slipped back down in 2017 to "just" 43 yards per attempt but it should be noted that he was asked to do considerably more, taking on kickoff duties and even freelancing a bit on longer field goal attempts, converting a 48-yarder as the first (and only points) of his college career. Perhaps the best indication of Scott's effective punting was the fact that opponents only attempted returns of five of his 54 punts in 2017 with more than five times as many punts (27, to be exact) dropped inside the 20-yard line. Despite this, Scott only had four touchbacks in 2017. Scott leaves Alabama as a two-time national champion and the all-time UA record holder for career punting attempts (243), yards (11,074) and average (45.6) with All-SEC honors earned every year of his career. BACKGROUND One of the nation's top-rated punting prospects who was also an excellent placekicker ... rated as the No. 1 punter in the nation by Chris Sailer, who is regarded as one of the top private kicking coaches in the nation, and a top-10 placekicker ... named to Sailer's Top 12 ... ranked as the No. 3 punter nationally and No. 8 placekicker by KohlsKicking.com ... participated in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl ... ranked fourth nationally among all punters and placekickers by Rivals.com and the No. 9 prospect in the state of Colorado per Rivals ... was rated No. 5 nationally among kickers by ESPN and No. 8 in Colorado ... the No. 6 kicker by 247Sports while ranking as the No. 3 kicker in the 247Composite and the No. 7 prospect in Colorado ... earned All-Colorado honors form the Denver Post ... a 2014 PrepStar All-Midlands Region selection ... averaged 43.8 yards per punt as a senior at Mullen High School in 2013 ... kicked off 44 times as a senior, with 43 resulting in touchbacks ... connected on 8-of-15 field goals and 23-of-24 extra points in 2013 ...

in our view

Scott not only boasts the size and leg strength to continue punting in the NFL, his experience on kickoffs and even on field goals and PATs could come in handy in a pinch. Scott, Alabama's all-time leading punter, is like many of Nick Saban's top recruits - soon to be cashing NFL paychecks.

strengths

Possesses excellent size for the position with a long, lanky frame. Punts boom off his foot, with Scott whipping his leg through the ball and nearly hitting himself in the helmet with his foot due to above average flexibility, extension and follow-through. Routinely drives the ball 60+ yards in the air with observers at the Senior Bowl often forced to duck for cover as he left the ballpark... Showed improved touch and trajectory in 2017, with approximately half of his punts being fair caught after just a quarter of them in 2016... Assumed kickoff duties in 2017 with Good directional punter, showing the ability to pin returners near the sideline. Varies his drop, showing the ability to deaden the ball and leave it bouncing backward for teammates to corral... Was a placekicker in high school and has the experience to convert to this role in a pinch, converting one field goal (48 yards) and making all 10 of his PAT attempts, including eight in 2017... Possesses the length and athleticism (among punters) to provide help on coverage units with four tackles to his credit... -- Rob Rang 2/8/2018

weaknesses

Raised his drop point a few inches in 2017, creating more spin on the ball but more inconsistency, as well... For a player with his reputation, Scott showed too many mental errors on tape, including shanks in which the ball simply comes off the side of his foot and dropped holds for the field goal kicker, including notably against rival Auburn in 2017 that Scott compounded with an ill-conceived pass to the kicker that went for a loss of nine yards. Has some experience as field goal kicker, himself, but was just one of four over his career...- Rob Rang 2/8/2018

One of the nation’s top-rated punting prospects who was also an excellent placekicker

rated as the No. 1 punter in the nation by Chris Sailer, who is regarded as one of the top private kicking coaches in the nation, and a top-10 placekicker

named to Sailer’s Top 12

ranked as the No. 3 punter nationally and No. 8 place-kicker by KohlsKicking.com

participated in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Ranked fourth nationally among all punters and placekickers by Rivals.com and the No. 9 prospect in the state of Colorado per Rivals

was rated No. 5 nationally among kickers by ESPN and No. 8 in Colorado

the No. 6 kicker by 247Sports while ranking as the No. 3 kicker in the 247Composite and the No. 7 prospect in Colorado

earned All-Colorado honors form the Denver Post

a 2014 PrepStar All-Midlands Region selection

named to the 2013 Colorado High School Coaches Association Elite Team at kicker

averaged 43.8 yards per punt as a senior at Mullen High School in 2013

kicked off 44 times as a senior, with 43 resulting in touchbacks

connected on 8-of-15 field goals and 23-of-24 extra points in 2013

as a junior in 2012, averaged 37.7 yards per punt with 23 touchbacks on 34 kickoffs while connecting on 6-of-10 field goals

coached by Tom Thenell at Mullen

chose Alabama over Notre Dame, Colorado and Arizona .

2017

passing
ATT	YPA	PCT	YDS	INT	TD	COMPLETIONS
1.0	-9.0	1.0	-9.0	0.0	0.0	1.0

kicking
FGM	PTS	LONG	PCT	FGA	XPM	XPA
1.0	11.0	48.0	0.333	3.0	8.0	8.0

punting
In 20	LONG	NO	TB	YDS	YPP
0.0	64.0	54.0	0.0	2320.0	43.0

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0

punting
In 20	LONG	NO	TB	YDS	YPP
0.0	66.0	64.0	0.0	3020.0	47.2

2015

kicking
FGM	PTS	LONG	PCT	FGA	XPM	XPA
0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

punting
In 20	LONG	NO	TB	YDS	YPP
0.0	59.0	70.0	0.0	3094.0	44.2