Distance has never really been an issue for Austin Seibert.
Whether it’s the distance between the ball and the goal post or the distance between home and the school of his choice, Seibert is as cool and relaxed as they come.
Listed at 5-foot-10, the Belleville, Illinois-native began his journey to signing a letter of intent to play football for the University of Oklahoma around February last year.
OU special teams coach Jay Boulware reached out to Seibert, who enjoyed four years as Belleville West High School’s varsity kicker and punter. However, Seibert’s leg isn’t just the best in Belleville.
He’s rated as the nation’s top punter and second-best kicker in his graduating class by KohlsKicking.com and was invited to play in the 2015 Under Armour All-American Game.
His high school coach, Cameron Pettus, said there’s something special about Seibert, who made his commitment to Oklahoma official inside Belleville West’s library on Feb. 4.
“Every time he makes contact with the ball it’s just a different deal than when you see other kids kick the ball,” Pettus said. “There’s a different sound to it; there’s a different way it comes off his foot. There’s a certain explosion you see in there that’s just unbelievable.”
Seibert said he’s been kicking since he was about 8-years-old, and fine-tuned his abilities under the guidance of kicking coaches Jamie Kohl and Filip Filipovic.
FBS-level interest was high for Seibert, who gave up soccer following his freshman year of high school to focus on football. However, he drew enough attention to receive scholarship offers from the likes of Indiana, Miami (Fl.), Missouri, and Northwestern.
“He was considering Mizzou, but he was waiting for OU to offer,” Austin’s mother Dawn Seibert said. “I think he was really hoping they would and he was so excited when they did. He was sure right away.”
Seibert verbally committed to OU last year in early May. However, he didn’t take his official visit to Norman, Oklahoma until a few weeks prior to the 2015 National Signing Day.
He did visit OU four times before that official trip and Oklahoma’s campus was one of the biggest deciding factors for his commitment.
“I wanted a campus that was beautiful,” Austin Seibert said. “It’s a public campus, but it’s like a private campus. It’s enclosed, kept up really well, really clean, and the campus fits exactly what I was looking for. The dorms are definitely a plus.”
Aside from his living arrangement, Seibert was also enticed by the opportunity to replace graduating seniors Jed Barnett, Nick Hodgson and Michael Hunnicutt as Oklahoma’s starting placekicker, punter, and kickoff specialist.
“It is something that we will work toward,” coach Bob Stoops said of Seibert’s chances to take over all three kicking jobs. “I would guess the endurance and fatigue of it all would have to factor in. [Seibert] is a powerful guy, so we will try to manage that in a positive way and see what he is able to handle.”
The responsibility of three starting jobs for one player doesn’t seem to faze Seibert, because he’s done it his entire life. He’s just happy to get the chance to play in front of a big crowd and believes he’s in good hands with Boulware as OU’s special teams coordinator.
Like most freshmen though, this will be Seibert’s first time living away from home. The incoming freshman doesn’t believe the seven-and-a-half hour drive from Norman to Belleville will affect him his first year on campus though.
“I don’t get homesick too bad,” he said. “I remember back in the seventh grade, I took a week-long trip to Notre Dame. My parents got mad at me, because I didn’t call them, because I was having so much fun.”
Austin Seibert’s mother thinks her son will miss home more than he thinks. However, she said he would leave tomorrow if he could.
The pressure that awaits Seibert next football season could be daunting though. Kicking woes hampered OU’s shot at competing for a Big 12 championship last season.
Seibert, however, says he’s excited to help the program get back on track, and he’s ready to prove himself as one of the country’s best kickers coming out of high school.
“It’s nice to be known as the top guy in the country,” Seibert said. “You get looked at higher up, people expect more out of you. I like rising to the occasion and impressing people who want to see the real deal first. It’ll be fun improving the program and getting back up to 10, 11, 12-win seasons.”
