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OU kicker Tate Sandell named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year

headshotby: George Stoia4 hours agoGeorgeStoia

OU kicker Tate Sandell has been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday.

The redshirt junior kicker has been stellar for the Sooners this season. He’s 23-of-24 on field goal attempts in the regular season. He has made each of his last 23 attempts, which is an OU and single-season SEC record. Sandell is also 7 of 7 from 50-plus yards. He was also a first-team All-SEC selection on Tuesday.

It’s been a record-breaking year for the UTSA transfer. According to the OU press release, Sandell is one of just two kickers nationally since at least 1995 to make at least seven field goals of 50-plus yards without a miss. He has made a school-career-record four field goals of 55-plus yards and is one of two FBS kickers in at least the last 30 years with four makes of 55-plus yards in a season.

His best performance came on the road against Tennessee, when Sandell made three field goals over 50 yards. He is a major reason why the Sooners are in the College Football Playoff.

“It’s been a huge part of our success this year,” coach Brent Venables said earlier this season of Sandell. “Proud of him, how he’s handled his success. He’s the same guy every day, really really high standards. He’s actually a great leader. Not just showing up every day and working, but he’s got a big voice. Players really like the things he has to stay. He’ll stand up and not flinch in front of them. As I’ve told you guys before, he looks at himself, as a little guy, but he doesn’t see himself as just a little guy. He’s got a lot of courage and toughness to him that resonates with rest of the team.”

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