ATLANTA — The spotlight was on everyone during Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl media day.
From Jalen Hurts to Kenneth Murray, to injured Delarrin Turner-Yell and CeeDee Lamb, it was all of Oklahoma’s starters opportunity to soak it in one last time if they so choose to do so.
Down in the corner, far away from the main show going on, the spotlight shined on Gabe Brkic for the first time in a pregame media setting, and no one was soaking it up more than him.
Oklahoma’s kicker had his bowl gear three quarters of the way zipped up. Two necklaces showing. Hair slicked to the side and a piece of chewing gum getting crunched every few seconds.
Brkic dripped with a swagger that you may see from a defensive back in college football, but exuded the utmost confidence in himself with a big grin, kind words and open thoughts.
The spotlight shined, and none of his teammates or coaches were surprised he soaked it all right up.
“He’s a fun kid, man,” said Lincoln Riley with a smile on his face as big as Brkic’s when asked. “He’s kind of quirky in some ways, but kind of enjoy the moment kind of kid. Yeah, fun. Always got a smile on his face, always in a good mood. He’s got a great demeanor and obviously he’s done a fabulous job for us this year.”
Quirky is one word to describe Brkic.
His teammates say he’s an “absolute goofball”, a “fun kid”, a “funny guy”, “different”, “the weirdest, but in a good way”.
Just like what special teams coordinator Jay Boulware likes.
“He’s just a good kid,” he said. “I don’t really know how to describe it. He’s really like a lot of kickers that I have recruited. Kind of his own world. Focused on what he’s got to do and really nothing bothers him, no matter what. Whether I am getting on him or whatever, he’s just kind of steady the whole time.”
Underneath that quirkiness is a kicker who has hit every single kick he has attempted his redshirt freshman season.
Seriously.
Brkic is a perfect of 17-of-17 on the season with a long of 50-yards. He now holds the all-time Oklahoma record for most consecutive kicks made in his first year of kicking in college.
Riley says he has given him as much confidence as any kicker he has had.
Brkic says he is so confident right now, that he was actually more nervous to kick in high school.
“I’m really confident now and that is kind of what takes away my nerves,” he said. “I was more nervous in high school cause I wasn’t as confident as I am right now. So I think I’m at the top of my confidence level.”
“Where does that come from?”
“Just like a healthy state of mind. Being happy. That’s it.”
That’s it.
“His confidence is really unique for a kid his age,” said senior holder Connor McGinnis. “I guess watching Austin Seibert in the year leading up to his has allowed him to see how it should be done. The way Austin approached the game, and now the way Gabe approaches the game, practices, kicks, whatever it is—it’s a business-like manner and it’s translated into games.”
Brkic can be seen in warmups nailing 50-yard field goals with ease. Oklahoma’s kicker even messed around and hit one from 60-yards in warmups ahead of the Big 12 Championship game.
Gabe Brkic out here drilling 60-yard field goals in warmups: #Sooners pic.twitter.com/GANKY8YLw5
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) December 7, 2019
According to him, that’s not the limit to his range, either, as he hit a 65-yard field goal in practice this season.
Boulware says it depends on how Brkic feels and looks in warmups in regards to his range in a game, but said he has confidence in him as far back as 55-yards.
Oklahoma’s kicker has been getting more and more confident each game this season, as well his teammates and coaches confidence in him.
If the opportunity arises for Brkic to hit a big kick in the College Football Playoff, expect his strut on to the field.
Expect him to smile and enjoy the moment.
That’s just who this quirky, goofy, perfect kicker is.
“Throughout the course of the year, we have gained a lot of confidence in Gabe,” Boulware said. “I think his confidence is growing as well as he continues to step up in big ball games. Our confidence is at a high level in him and what he can do right now and we feel like we got one of the best kickers in the country.”
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