The Oklahoma Sooners added a fifth placekicker to their official roster on Wednesday. True freshman Preston Tarpley joins OU by way of the Gunter (Texas) Tigers. He will wear jersey No. 33 and gives special teams coordinator Doug Deakin another new face in the search for the present and future of the kicker position. Tarpley replaces defensive back Jocelyn Malaska, who also wore No. 33, on the official roster for the Sooners. Oklahoma had Malaska on their initial pre-SEC Media Days roster by mistake. Malaska entered the portal this spring and transferred to Abilene Christian.
Tarpley is a three-time state champion at the Texas 3A Division II level with the Tigers. What’s more, he was Gunter’s starter at quarterback, punter and kicker during his senior season in 2024, leading the small-town Tigers to the state crown. Tarpley isn’t traveling far to join to Sooners in Norman, as Gunter sits in North Texas, where they have won five state titles since 2016.
Tarpley joins a kicker room that also includes Tate Sandell, Austin Welch, Liam Evans, and Grayson Miller. Of OU’s five kickers, only Evans was on the team as season ago. Deakin’s special teams group is rounded out by punter Jacob Ulrich and long-snappers Ben Anderson and Seth Freeman.
With the addition of Tarpley, Oklahoma’s roster now has 111 total players. The Sooners have 54 offensive players, 49 defensive players, and eight special teams players. Tarpley is one of a staggering 46 newcomers to join OU in 2025, compared to 65 players who return from last season.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Source link : https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/sooners/football/2025/07/30/oklahoma-sooners-football-preston-tarpley-kicker/85448504007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-07-31 00:30:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
