Oklahoma Kicker Enters Transfer Portal

Originally posted on Oklahoma Sooners on SI
By John E. Hoover | Last updated Jan 19, 2024 3:46 PM ET

Oklahoma’s kicker position gained just a little bit of clarity on Friday.

Redi Mustafaraj, academically a fourth-year junior from Atoka, OK, entered the transfer portal as a graduate student.

Mustafaraj came to OU from Northeastern A&M (OK) but couldn’t crack the lineup.

University of Oklahoma Grad transfer with 2 years of eligibility remaining.

DMs open!

FG Film - https://t.co/IsVg4gpXA7
Pre Practice FG - https://t.co/elqTzizCbF
KO Film - https://t.co/MqiUDbDWWG pic.twitter.com/nqRUDM9lP6
— Redi Mustafaraj (@RediMustafaraj) January 19, 2024

Zach Schmit won the job in 2022 and maintained it in 2023 despite occasional accuracy issues on clutch field goals.

Schmit’s backup both seasons was freshman Gavin Marshall, whom coach Brent Venables said last season sustained an injury that kept him from competing for the job in practice under special teams analyst Jay Nunez.

Now in 2024, the competition could be more intense than ever as Schmit is back after two seasons as the starter, and Marshall is presumably healthy.

OU has also added two kickers for 2024: true freshman Liam Evans is one of the top high school kicking prospects in the nation, according to Kohl’s Kicking Camp rankings, and comes to OU from Moore; and grad transfer Tyler Keltner arrives after a year at Florida State and four years at East Tennessee State.

Mustafaraj writes that he has two years of college football eligibility remaining. As a graduate transfer, he is immediately eligible to play next season.