It’s a three-man competition at the kicker spot this year for Venables and new special teams analyst Doug Deakin. The former San Diego State special teams coordinator replaces Jay Nunez, who left this offseason to take a job at Alabama.
Special teams were not a strength for Oklahoma last year, and the kicking game was a part of the problem. Incumbent kicker Zach Schmidt missed six field goals in 2023, which won’t cut it in the SEC.
Schmidt may very well win the job this fall, but OU brought in two newcomers to compete for the job.
Tyler Keltner transferred from Florida State, and could have the best shot to unseat Schmidt. He kicked just one extra point last year for the Seminoles, but was a four-year starter at East Tennessee State, making 75 percent of his field goals.
True freshman Liam Evans has a big leg that the Sooners have been missing since Gabe Brkic left town. Evans wouldn’t be the first true freshman to win the kicking job, as Austin Seibert did just that in 2015.
Deakin has been regarded as a slam-dunk hire, and job one is to settle on the right kicker, someone who won’t give away points in plus territory.
Schmidt, Keltner and Evans will all get a shot to be the kickoff specialist as well, with that job not necessarily tied to who wins the battle to kick field goals and extra points.
At the lesser known specialist spots, Ben Anderson figures to be the team’s long snapper, with Ethan Lane in the mix there as well. Luke Elizinga and Josh Plaster are both experienced at holder.
Kickoff returner sees multiple players with a chance to make that role their own with Farooq and Franklin likely options from the offense and Billy Bowman and Peyton Bowen representing the defense.
At punt returner, a similar mixture of players could step into the role left vacant with the departure of Gavin Freeman. Bowen was electric in that department in high school, but Burks, Farooq, Franklin, Kearney and true freshman receiver Ivan Carreon all got reps at…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Football | Sooners Wire…