Alabama, which is in the market for an offensive coordinator and a defensive coordinator following the recent departures of Brian Daboll and Jeremy Pruitt, announced its hire of a special teams coordinator Thursday afternoon.
Jeff Banks, who spent the past five seasons coaching tight ends and special teams at Texas A&M, will handle football's third phase for the reigning national champion. Multiple programs across the country are expected to hire coaches with a specific emphasis on special teams in this first year the NCAA is allowing a 10th assistant.
"We are pleased to be able to add a coach the caliber of Jeff Banks to our staff as special teams coordinator," head coach Nick Saban said in a release. "Jeff is well respected across the country for his knowledge of the game and his ability to recruit. He is a great teacher and someone who will help our football team be successful."
Texas A&M ranked third nationally in net punting this past season and seventh in 2016, and Banks' first punter in College Station, Drew Kaser, earned All-America honors in 2013 by averaging 47.4 yards per attempt. The past three seasons, the Aggies have had return specialist Christian Kirk, who had six career punt returns for touchdowns, one kickoff return for a score and a 22-yard career punt-return average.
When reports surfaced last Thursday that Banks would be heading to Tuscaloosa, Kirk posted on Twitter, "This is very scary. Bama just got the best in the business."
"Coach Saban has built an unbelievable program that has a long tradition of success," Banks said. "I'm really excited to get out on the road recruiting, and I look forward to doing my part to help continue the success this program has enjoyed."
Banks was an All-Pac-10 punter in his final two seasons at Washington State, averaging 42.8 yards as a junior in 1996 and 43.4 yards as a senior in 1997. The Cougars went 10-2 in his final season and played in the Rose Bowl.
'Wise' decision
Alabama running back Damien Harris notched a second consecutive 1,000-yard season in the recent run to the national title, but he recently elected to come back for his senior year.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said Thursday afternoon that Harris made the right call.
"I think that was a wise move on his part," Kiper said on a teleconference. "He did not finish strong. In a lot of games, he had one big carry that led to him having a high average per carry.
"Damien Harris was smart to go back."
Kiper considers Alabama's Bo Scarbrough, one of five Southeastern Conference running backs who elected to turn pro early, a fourth- to sixth-round pick.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.