Oklahoma's Tate Sandell named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year

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After a 10-2 season and a trip to the College Football Playoff, the Oklahoma Sooners have earned a number of postseason awards from the SEC. One of their best players earned the highest honor for his unit when kicker Tate Sandell was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.

Sandell, a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, led the SEC in field goal percentage and leads the nation in the number of made field goals of 50 yards or more. No kicker has attempted more than Sandell, and he was a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals from 50 yards or more. Since 1995, he’s been the only kicker to be perfect on at least seven field goals of 50 yards or more and four kicks of 55 yards or more.

The UTEP transfer missed his first career kick in a Sooners uniform, but has gone on to make a school record 23 attempts in a row since the Week 1 miss. He’s been an absolute weapon for the Sooners this season and a big reason why Oklahoma is in the College Football Playoff.

He was clutch on the road in the Sooners’ win over Tennessee, going 4-for-4 with three field goals of 50 yards or more in the game, including a pair of 55-yarders. He also hit the go-ahead field goal early in the fourth quarter in Oklahoma’s win over Alabama.

He’s a player that Brent Venables has come to rely upon when Oklahoma gets across the 50. In years past, Venables was more willing to go for it on fourth down because the kicking game wasn’t always consistent. But with Oklahoma’s defense playing the way they have, Venables can afford to settle for field goals because Sandell has been automatic. And OU will need Sandell to continue coming through in the clutch if they hope to make some noise in the College Football Playoff.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Tate Sandell named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year

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