How Alabama kicker commit Will Reichard became recruiting fan favorite

The recent tweet from FunnyMaine — the comedian and Alabama uber-fan known for his viral videos about SEC football — caught Alabama kicker commit Will Reichard‘s attention.

“I thought it was kind of funny,” Reichard said.

This is the ONLY recruit Im following til next August. I wanna know what he’s eating, grades, relationship status, are the parents getting along, religious standing, ACT score, mental health, financial literacy, everything. https://t.co/ywbxJnNu8x

— FunnyMaine.com (@FunnyMaine) October 11, 2018

The tweet showed why Reichard, a 3-star prospect and senior at Hoover, has emerged as one of the most popular commits in Alabama’s star-studded Class of 2019, which is currently ranked No. 1 nationally.

Alabama fans’ collective angst about the Crimson Tide’s kicking game is well known and one of the few weak links on a team averaging the nation’s best 53.1 points per game and looking for a fourth straight trip to the national championship game.

Alabama kicker Joseph Bulovas is 8-for-12 on field goals this season, including 2-of-2 on kicks of 40-plus yards, although Bulovas and Austin Jones have combined to miss four extra points.

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Alabama’s kicking woes are well-documented, including Andy Pappanastos’ shanked field goal at the end of regulation in last year’s national championship game, Adam Griffith’s inconsistent career that included 26 missed field goals from 2013-16, and even Alabama’s woeful tackling on the iconic Kick Six play in the 2013 Iron Bowl.

Reichard has made 5-of-7 field goals this season for Hoover, including 3-for-3 from 40-plus yard, including a 54-yarder. He’s also boomed 38-of-42 kickoffs for touchbacks and averages 35.7 yards per punt.

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The combination of Reichard’s strong leg and Alabama’s inconsistent kicking game has sparked fans’ interest in the Hoover senior, and he said receives social media message from them “all the time.” He said he views the fan interaction as a positive, not a negative.

“It’s just part of it, part of the recruiting process,” Reichard said.

What do fans say? “‘Can’t wait to get you here,’ stuff like that. It’s really nice, and I try to really enjoy it,” he said.

Just like he did with the FunnyMaine tweet.

Hoover’s George Pickens plans to sign in February