Alabama Receiver Isaiah Bond Still Working on Returning Punts

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban gave no indication that a change at punt returner may be coming for the Crimson Tide on Wednesday.

In fact, Saban addressed a question on the SEC Coaches Teleconference about Kool-Aid McKinstry's performance this season with praise and dismissed opinions who may have considered the cornerback's performance an area of weakness. 

There's no doubt that McKinstry's recent pattern of allowing punts to go uncaught has cost Alabama field position and was the source of the original question to the Crimson Tide head coach.

Alabama sophomore Isaiah Bond was in front of the media for the first time this season after helping the Tide pull off its most recent win in comeback fashion over the Tennessee Volunteers. 

The former 4-star prospect out of Buford, Ga., was asked about his punt returning experience and gave an interesting answer.

"Yes sir, I did do punt return in high school and yes sir I am working on punt return as well, should be seeing me soon," Bond said.

The sophomore has fielded one punt in 2023, netting just a 1-yard return in the season opening win against Middle Tennessee State. He returned just a single punt as a freshmen, providing the Crimson Tide with a 34-yard return against Louisiana-Monroe.

"Soon" is certainly a relative phrase and means something different to nearly everyone. Was Bond just exuding general confidence in his abilities to do the job? Will he be called upon to take over for McKinstry as the season's final four games approach? Or is he expecting to take over the roll when the defensive back most likely moves on to the NFL this coming spring?

There's no way to know until the Crimson Tide takes the field again, for now, the clarity that Saban offered the public on Wednesday morning on the position was short lived.