In the inaugural year of the College Football Playoff for Alabama under Nick Saban, a specialist was the most valuable asset in pushing the Crimson Tide into the postseason.
JK Scott became the most valuable weapon for a team that was growing on defense and finding an offensive identity under a new coordinator in Lane Kiffin. Scott averaged 48 yards per punt, which was best in the nation. He also dropped 31 of 55 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, which was good for 56.4 percent. Scott became a Freshman All-American and a finalist for the Ray Guy Award that season in 2014.