NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
One of the bigger weaknesses of the Oklahoma Sooners has been addressed as coach Brent Venables, and OU signed kicker Tate Sandell out of the transfer portal on Friday.
Sandell heads to Norman from UTSA, where he was an American Athletic Conference honorable mention for the Roadrunners last year. He made 19 of 23 field goal attempts and 35 of 36 extra points for UTSA in 2024. His 19 makes were second in the conference, and his 82.6 field-goal percentage was good for third. Sandell was also fantastic within 49 yards, making the third most field goals between 40 and 49 yards, where he was 7 of 8 last season.
The Sooners needed another kicker after Austin Welch and Liam Evans failed to establish themselves during spring practice. Evans, a redshirt freshman from Moore High School, made his one and only extra point last year against Maine, and Welch, who transferred from FCS Kennesaw State over the winter, made 14 of 18 for the Owls in 2024.
OU was forced to use two kickers last year as well. Tyler Keltner began the year as the primary placekicker but was lost with an injury halfway through the season and has since exhausted eligibility. Zach Schmitt took over after serving as the team’s kickoff specialist and made 9 of his 11 attempts. He also lost eligibility after the season, leaving the Sooners to examine the portal.
“I like the best version I saw with punting and kicking was good. And the worst version was not good,” Venables said near the end of spring. “So, still uneven, still a battle going into the summer. … Especially in this stadium, so you gotta be able to kick in whatever conditions there are.”
Sandell is the fourth player Oklahoma has acquired from the portal since it reopened in the spring. He joins former Cal-Berkeley running back Jadyn Ott, Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula and Utah defensive…
Source link : https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/sooners/football/2025/04/25/oklahoma-sooners-football-tate-sandell-transfer-portal/83279500007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-04-25 21:40:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
