Andy Pappanastos

(Andy Pappanastos Twitter)

Another Power Five conference school, Maryland, wanted Andy Pappanastos enough that it offered him a scholarship after he officially got his release from Ole Miss in late February.

But Alabama's new graduate transfer kicker, a Montgomery native whose father and brother both graduated from Alabama, instead decided to walk-on with the Tide, though he has been told he will have the opportunity to earn a scholarship down the road.

Pappanastos, who was on scholarship at Ole Miss, has two years of eligibility remaining, giving Alabama more depth and another option for both this season and 2017.

He is set to graduate in May.

"I was really excited to be recruited by schools and hearing how interested they were. But when Alabama came along, it was really a no-brainer for me," said Pappanastos, who was also recruited by Georgia, among others.

Pappanastos, who holds the Alabama high school record with 48 career field goals, got limited opportunities the last two seasons at Ole Miss after grayshirting in 2012 and then redshirting in 2013.

His stats the last two years consist of just seven kickoffs, nine extra point attempts and only one field goal attempt (a miss from 42 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2014).

With limited tape of him kicking in games with the Rebels, Pappanastos made a video of him kicking that he sent to a collection of schools, including Alabama, after he received his release from Ole Miss.

In all, Pappanastos said he heard from "probably seven or eight schools." But he talked to the Tide "a good bit," visited earlier this month and committed last Friday.

While the Tide has redshirt senior Adam Griffith, who made 23 of his final 28 field goals last year, Pappanastos will, at worst, compete for the backup kicker job before getting a chance to compete for the top kicker spot in 2017 with Griffith gone.

"My expectation," Pappanastos said, "is kind of to come in and compete with (Griffith). He's been their guy for the last couple years. I understand that, and they understand that. I'm just going to come in and accept my role. I'm going to kick as hard as I can and push both of us. And if they call my number, I'm going to be ready to go out there.

"Adam did a great job turning his season around last year, and I'm sure he's going to pick up where he left off. He's a good kicker. So I just want to be a good alternative for this year. And if I get my chance, I'm going to be ready for it."