Oklahoma’s special teams showed signs of progress in 2024, thanks to the hiring of seasoned special teams coach Doug Deakin and a change in NCAA rules that let analysts step into coaching roles. Yet, despite some improvements, the Sooners’ special teams remained inconsistent throughout the season.
Mistakes were frequent, though nothing disastrous occurred. Early-season issues like dropped punts were evident, and only one player made any game-changing plays. While the special teams occasionally delivered, they were equally prone to erratic performances. Whether it was kickoff returns, field goals, punts, or any other aspect, the Sooners never quite found consistent excellence.
2024 Oklahoma Special Teams Report Card
The Sooners ranked 36th in the nation and 7th in the SEC in overall special teams efficiency, a major leap from 2023 when they were ranked a dismal 127th nationally. Despite these gains, there was no shortage of missed opportunities: no blocked punts or field goals, and zero touchdowns from either punt or kickoff returns. The longest kickoff return was only 31 yards (Sam Franklin), and the longest punt return was just 24 yards (Peyton Bowen). The team finished 68th in punt returns and 88th in kickoff returns, with averages of 7.96 and 18.92 yards per return, respectively.
The only real highlight of the season came in the blowout win over Temple, where Jaren Kanak scooped up a fumble and scored a 21-yard touchdown. This play, forced by Lewis Carter, was the rare game-changing moment in an otherwise lackluster special teams performance. Carter’s early contributions, including recovering a muffed punt against Houston that led to a touchdown, gave fans some hope.
However, the special teams’ flaws were often more noticeable. Bowen and Billy Bowman each muffed multiple punts, with Bowman’s mistake leading to Missouri’s first points in a tough loss. Punter Luke Elzinga, the team’s most reliable player, posted solid numbers, ranking 16th nationally with a 44.8-yard average. Still, even Elzinga had his off moments, such as a disastrous 11-yard punt in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.
Missed field goals also haunted the Sooners. Zach Schmit, who lost his starting role to transfer Tyler Keltner, rebounded to hit 9-of-11 field goals midseason, including a career-long 56-yarder at Missouri. But his miss in the bowl game, a 52-yard attempt in the fourth quarter, proved costly, as Navy quickly capitalized with a go-ahead touchdown.
Credit must be given to Deakin and head coach Brent Venables for their creativity with fake punts. Elzinga completed all three of his attempts for 66 yards and three first downs, each play executed with perfect timing.
Coverage teams were mostly solid but had their struggles. They allowed only 4.86 yards per punt return (26th nationally), largely thanks to Elzinga’s hang time. However, the team was porous on kickoffs, ranking 121st in kickoff return defense, allowing 24.44 yards per return. This weakness was starkly exposed in the season finale, when Aaron Anderson returned a kickoff for a backbreaking 100-yard touchdown at LSU.
