Kalen DeBoer offers post-spring injury update on freshman punter Alex Asparuhov
HOOVER, Ala. – Alabama’s punter competition was shorthanded this spring, as freshman Alex Asparuhov missed all 15 practices as he continued to recover from a high school knee injury.
The Crimson Tide signed Asparuhov as part of its 2025 recruiting class, as James Burnip ran out of eligibility. But with the freshman’s injury, Alabama brought in a transfer before spring ball. Colorado School of Mines transfer Blake Doud committed to the Tide and was the top punter during spring camp, but Asparuhov figures to be in the mix whenever healthy.
On Wednesday morning, head coach Kalen DeBoer said he believes the specialist will be good to go when the Crimson Tide begins preseason camp this summer ahead of his second year.
“Alex will be cleared. That’s the expectation there,” said DeBoer before teeing off at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am. “From our standpoint, we wanted to make sure that we had a couple of different options.
“Just him not having the level of training, the level of work that he’d have if he were healthy all through the spring and summer, that was something that we just wanted to make sure we guarded against.”
Top 10
- 1New
Dave Van Horn
Addresses retirement rumors
- 2Hot
Tennessee Softball Coach
Calls out tampering programs
- 3Trending
CWS Jello Shot Tracker
Update: LSU blasts off
- 4
Joel Klatt
Pressure is on Josh Heupel
- 5
Michigan Wolverines
Host transfer QB
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
A 3-star recruit in the Class of 2025, Asparuhov was rated as the nation’s No. 3 punter, per the On3 Industry Rankings, following four years at San Joaquin Memorial in Fresno, California. He ultimately chose Alabama over Florida, Fresno State and Oklahoma, among others.
Asparuhov is expected to compete for the starting punter job this summer, and whoever takes over that role has big shoes to fill. Burnip handled punting for the Crimson Tide each of the last four years and averaged 45.37 per kick in 2024, which ranked 11th in the country.
“He’s really coming along,” DeBoer said of Asparuhov. “He’s an athlete. He’s strong, a strong kid. It seems like his recovery process is going well, so we expect him to be cleared and be a part of the competition.”
Alabama will kick off the 2025 season at Florida State on August 30 at 2:30 p.m. CT (ABC).
Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!
Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting, and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!
