Crimson Countdown: No. 34 Zach Schmit

The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2024 Oklahoma football season. Fans have been waiting for what feels like forever with this one. The Sooners are finally and officially joining the SEC.

The 2023 season was a rebound one for head coach Brent Venables , getting the program back to its standard. OU went 10-3 in Venables’ second season, now it’s time for year No. 3.

Every day as we get closer to kickoff, SoonerScoop.com will count down the days with you. Starting with No. 99 and working our way to No. 0, we’ll be there every step of the way.

Crimson Countdown: No. 34 Zach Schmit

2023 stats : Played all 13 games, 15-21 on field goals, 67-67 on extra points.

2024 outlook :

There might not be a more polarizing player on the OU roster. Watch Schmit in practice, and he clearly looks like the best kicker on the team. Watch him in a game? And you just don’t have that same confidence.

Schmit did improve from 12-for-18 on field goals in 2022 to 15-for-21. But nobody is really sure if you can count on him in the clutch. And despite 28 connects in his career, his long is just 46 yards.

OU brought in some competition, so it’s not like Schmit will just be a three-year starter without earning it. But, indeed, OU is trying to make sure Schmit earns it every single week. And Venables might have given Schmit some motivation earlier this week, saying Tyler Keltner looks like the guy. OK, game on.

2024 special teams outlook

Special teams figures to be one of the more varied possible outcomes on the roster. Oklahoma returns starters at punter, kicker, and long snapper. But after a mixed bag of results in 2023 the Sooners are now with a new position coach in Doug Deakin from San Diego State. Punter Luke Elzinga seems a safe bet as does long snapper Ben Anderson but the battle at kicker between incumbent Zach Schmit and Tyler Keltner could be pivotal to the team’s success in what figures to be a season of tight games.

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