OU, coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, heads into 2026 expecting another strong year from its special teams unit as it returns both its starting kicker and punter.
Redshirt senior kicker Tate Sandell announced in January that he would return to OU, opting against the 2026 NFL Draft despite being the best at his position last season. He won the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's best kicker, after completing 23 of 24 field goals during the regular season, including converting 7 of 7 attempts from 50 yards or more. He also finished the season 35 for 35 on extra point attempts.
Sandell’s award-winning season broke records. As the SEC special teams player of the year he made 24 consecutive field goals, more than the previous program high of 18; And in a road win over Tennessee, he tied the Neyland Stadium record for longest field goal at 55 yards.
Special teams coordinator Doug Deakin said in March that Sandell has more to accomplish.
Sooner special teams coordinator Doug Deakin detailed returning kicker Tate Sandell's offseason mentality following a record-breaking season.
“He’s back because of unfinished business, …” Deakin said. “The way that Norman and the state of Oklahoma wrapped their arms around and endeared themselves to Tate, he wants nothing more than to double down and come hang our own banner rather than just qualifying and making the playoffs.”
OU also returns redshirt senior punter Grayson Miller. He started all of his 12 games played in 2025 and was an all-SEC first team pick by coaches and the Associated Press. He set a single-season program-record with 24 punts of at least 50 yards.
Miller earned the starting role after redshirt junior Jacob Ulrich injured his hamstring early in the 2025 season. Miller averaged 47.8 yards on four punts (longest being 59) against Michigan in his first start.
“Ulrich wins the job, pulls his hamstring, and next thing you know, Miller, though, to his temperament and how he approached every practice and how much better he got from spring through fall camp and then Michigan being his first game, really took off,” Deakin said.
Deakin made clear that Miller would receive first-team reps leading up to the 2026 season but did not state that Ulrich is out of the running for the starting spot.
“It will absolutely be neck and neck,” Deakin said. “Miller will take the first reps, but Ulrich is right there with him. Miller knows he can't take a single rep off because Ulrich wants that job too.”
The Sooners keep their speedy wide receiver and punt returner in redshirt senior Isaiah Sategna. He returned 24 punts for 318 yards in 2025, with his longest being 43.
“He possesses God-given talent of how fast he can go,” Deakin said. “When the ball is in his hands, he has the ability to make the first miss — (that is) what you look for in a punt returner. He's got that check, then speed to take the five-yard return, make it a 10-plus.”
OU also added junior running back Lloyd Avant in the offseason, who returned 11 kickoffs for 268 yards at Colorado State in 2025. The Sooners returned only two kickoffs — amounting to 16 yards — as a team in 2025 but have another weapon if they choose to make adjustments in 2026.
This story was edited by Charlie DiVincenzo. Tori Pham, Larkin Bock and Kennedy Johnson copy edited this story.
