Oklahoma’s Special Teams Outlook for 2022

Particular groups are the third unit of school soccer that doesn’t obtain a lot consideration in comparison with the offense and protection. The Oklahoma Sooners hope that new particular groups coordinator Jay Nunez will flip the particular groups into an elite unit that may achieve discover. The Alva, Oklahoma native will oversee the Sooners’ particular groups unit in an off-the-field place. Nunez has been accountable for particular groups for Jap Michigan for the final 5 seasons. The Eagles weren’t elite in kickoff and punt returns. Their greatest yr was a No. 96 rating in kickoff returns in 2018; No. 21 in punt returns a yr later.

ECU’s punting unit was extra dynamic. The Eagles have ranked within the high 30 yearly since Nunez’s second yr in 2018. EMU restricted foes to a median of 0.75 yards (sixth nationally) on punt return protection and 18.0 kickoff return yards (twenty third) allowed in 2020—the very best yr beneath Nunez’s tutelage. In 2018, EMU ranked second in punts downed contained in the 5-yard line, fourth in kicks downed inside the ten, and twenty third in punts downed contained in the 20. Jake Julien, ECU’s punter, averaged 44 yards per boot throughout his four-year profession. Final yr, he ranked seventeenth with a median of 45.9.

The Sooners have a star punter, though he didn’t rank among the many nation’s greatest. Why? As a result of he didn’t meet the minimal common punts (3.6 per recreation) to make the nationwide listing. Michael Turk, a 2021 switch from Arizona State, punted solely 35 instances final yr (2.7 kicks per recreation.) Turk averaged 51.17 yards per boot a yr in the past, solely behind San Diego State’s Matt Araiza (51.19 common). An All-Large 12 first-teamer in 2021, Turk had 20 punts of at the very least 50 yards, and eight traveled 60-plus. He had one boot of 85 yards towards Texas. Sixteen of Turk’s kicks final yr have been downed contained in the 20.

The Sooners will likely be searching for a brand new placekicker to interchange Gabe Brkic, who left a yr early for the NFL. Josh Plaster, one other Solar Satan switch and redshirt junior will battle it out with freshman Gavin Marshall. Plaster made three PATs within the Crimson/White Sport and punted a median of 46.6 yards per kick. Marshall, a 5-star product of Frisco, Texas, related on 2 PATs and made the one area aim tried, nailing a 21-yarder within the R/W Sport. Zach Schmit, a redshirt sophomore, is also on the roster however didn’t play within the R/W Sport; nonetheless, he made one area aim (46-yarder) in 2021 and was 4 for 4 on PATs. He additionally kicked off 5 instances a yr in the past.

Return Sport a Weak point within the Previous

Oklahoma hasn’t had a kickoff or punt returned for a landing in six years. That’s when Joe Mixon returned a kickoff 97 yards towards Ohio State, and 5 video games later, Dede Westbrook returned a punt for 71 yards towards Kansas. Kickoff and punt returns ranked thirteenth and nineteenth in 2020—the very best manufacturing for the reason that return models have been ranked within the high 10 nationally in 2009.

Eric Grey, Marvin Mims, and Marcus Main seem like the odds-on favorites to return kickoffs this yr since all three have expertise previously. Mario Williams had probably the most returns in 2020 however defected Norman to hitch Lincoln Riley at USC. Mims was the first punt return specialist final yr with a 6.9-yard common. The Sooners ranked eighty fifth (20.3 common) in kickoff returns and 99th (5.75 common) in punt returns.

OU needs to be in good arms with the return of tremendous senior Kasey Kelleher because the lengthy snapper for punts and place kicks. He has served the place in each recreation of the final 4 years. Turk seems to be the favourite holder for the placekicking group. He served as a backup in 2021.