Alabama football coach announces starting punter and leadership changes

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has announced several updates regarding the Crimson Tide football team ahead of their upcoming game against East Carolina. Sophomore Alex Asparuhov has been named the starting punter, filling the vacancy left by graduate Blake Doud. Asparuhov is returning to the starting role after a back injury limited his participation during the 2025 fall camp.

Regarding team leadership, DeBoer stated that the program will take a different approach to selecting captains for the 2026 season. Unlike previous years where captains were named before the season began, the coaching staff has not yet selected leaders, opting instead to utilize a unity council to act as a liaison between the players and the coaching staff. This decision follows the departure of several former captains to the NFL.