NORMAN — It's no secret that OU's special teams needed an upgrade after struggling last season.
Coming into the SEC, where most conference games are close on either side of the ball, Brent Benvares didn't shy away from the reality that changes were needed in every special teams category. A season ago, the Sooners ranked 94th on special teams in SP+, ESPN's college football efficiency rating, and finished 50th nationally in kick returns and 95th in punt returns.
Kicker Zach Schmidt made just 11 of 17 attempts in 2023, including a critical miss in the loss to Oklahoma State. Josh Plaster, who started this year as OU's punter, sat on the bench in place of Luke Elzinga after the Texas game, but Elzinga is expected to keep his job in 2024.
When Jay Nunez left on Feb. 5 to become Alabama's special teams coordinator, Venables knew he needed to make sure he made a special teams hire. He acted quickly and arrested former San Diego State University special teams coach Doug Deakin on February 22nd.
“Doug's body of work,” Venavales said of Deakin's appeal. “He's been dedicated and has built something in this profession at his destination in many different ways. He's had a great journey and how he got to where he is now. He has a great testimony. But he's really good, he's passionate about what he does, he's smart, and he's very successful.”
Deakin spent six years as the Aztecs' coordinator, helping the Aztecs rank 56th in the nation in 2023 SP+.
“He has a philosophy on special teams from an offensive standpoint, and that aligns with what we're going for in the special teams space,” Venables said. “We feel like this is an opportunity to improve and get better. It's obviously a space that we need to improve on. We can kick the ball more consistently, we can't turn the ball over. We can be more efficient. must become.”
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OU Football 2023 Special Teams Rewind
good things: Elzinga averaged 45.1 yards per punt in 2023 and was a difference-maker late in the season. He appeared in 11 games and totaled 1,217 yards on 27 punts and 58 longs. He also finished the season with six punts. Over 50 yards.
bad person: Schmidt hasn't been consistent enough to be a satisfying starter moving forward. And Venables was unable to back up Gavin Marshall, who suffered an injury during the season.
Marshall entered the transfer portal on Wednesday.
OU also struggled to find consistency at kick and punt returners. Jalil Farouq had some fumbling issues against Tulsa, losing the ball after making an explosive return. Gavin Freeman also struggled last season, stopping four punts and averaging just 6.8 yards per punt return.
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Who is there: Florida State transfer Tyler Keltner and Moore High School standout freshman Liam Evans.
Who is outside: Gavin Marshall, Lady Mustafaraj
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OU Football Special Teams Depth Chart
starter
kickers: Tyler Keltner, redshirt senior or Zach Schmidt, redshirt senior
panter:Luke Elzinga
reserves
kickers: Liam Evans, freshman.Josh Plaster, redshirt senior
panter: Ashton Logan, redshirt sophomore.Josh Plaster, redshirt senior
returner: Brennen Thompson showed flashes of speed late last season. Expect him to be selected for more special teams in 2024. Wide receiver Deion Burks, transferred from Purdue, could also be part of the returning rotation, along with safety Peyton Bowen and speedster Jaquise Pettaway.
Keltner and Schmidt are expected to compete for the starting kicker spot during spring training. The Elzinga spot appears to be closed.
“They never revealed who was going to play next year,” Keltner told The Oklahoman. “From the beginning, we're going to compete and we're going to see how this goes this year. We're going to put the best product on the field.
“But in this situation, I really want to play in the NFL after this year is over. OU would be the best platform for me.” I want to contribute, I want to go to work, and I want to be good. I don't think it's easy at all. ”
Gaylord Family Saturday, April 20th at 1:00 p.m. – Need to know who's solidifying his place as a contributor on the special teams unit during OU's annual spring game at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium There is.
