The Sooners’ reserve kicker in 2023 was one of three on the roster, but competition has increased for 2024.
Oklahoma’s kicker situation became a little clearer on Friday.
Redi Mustafaraj, a fourth-year junior from Atoka, Oklahoma, used the transfer portal as a graduate student.
Mustafaraj transferred to OU from Northeastern A&M (OK), but he was unable to make the lineup in his first year in Norman.
Zach Schmit won the role in 2022 and held it in 2023, despite occasional accuracy concerns on key field goals.
Schmit’s backup both seasons was freshman Gavin Marshall, who, according to coach Brent Venables, suffered an injury last season that prevented him from competing for the job in practice with special teams analyst Jay Nunez.
Now, in 2024, the rivalry might be more severe than ever, with Schmit returning after two seasons as starter and Marshall apparently healthy.
OU has also added two kickers for 2024: true freshman Liam Evans is one of the top high school kicking prospects in the country, according to Kohl’s Kicking Camp rankings, and comes to OU from Moore; and grad transfer Tyler Keltner comes after a year at Florida State and four years at East Tennessee State.
Mustafaraj writes that he has two years of collegiate football eligibility left. As a graduate transfer, he is already eligible to play next season.
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