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Alabama football special teams senior analyst Jay Nunez is looking forward to seeing a few Oklahoma players with whom he grew close as an OU special teams analyst — he was part of the Sooners staff from 2022-2023 — but for Nunez, going back to the school he just departed only partly explains the appeal of the Crimson Tide’s key game at Oklahoma on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC).
It’s also where he was raised.
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Nunez grew up in Alva, Oklahoma, a tiny community in the northwest corner of the state, near the Kansas border, and spent plenty of time traveling to Norman for Sooners games.
“I haven’t slept at all. I don’t want to say it’s emotional, (but) I grew up in Oklahoma,” Nunez said. “My senior year, I played Friday nights, got in the car with my best friend … drove three hours and watched (OU) games. Working there for two years was literally a dream come true.”
OU special teams have been rock solid in Nunez’s absence this year. Punter Luke Elzinga is averaging 45.7 yards per punt, while the kicking duo of Tyler Keltner and Zach Schmit have combined to connect on 14 of 16 field goals. The coverage units have allowed opponents just 5.4 yards per punt return and 16.9 per kickoff return.
Matchup to watch
Oklahoma LT Logan Howland vs. Alabama OLB Qua Russaw: The Sooners are hopeful that Howland is one of multiple solutions needed for what has been a very leaky offensive line. The redshirt freshman has started OU’s last two games at left tackle, but he’ll be challenged more against Alabama than he was against Maine or Missouri. Russaw will be counted on more to pressure quarterbacks with Crimson Tide LB Que Robinson out for…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/return-oklahoma-special-alabama-football-015824077.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-11-21 01:58:00
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