As Michael Turk prepares for an NFL future, the Oklahoma Sooners went back to the transfer portal well for their next punter. To replace Turk, who the Sooners added in the portal from Arizona State, Oklahoma’s adding Central Michigan punter Luke Elzinga.
In three seasons with the Chippewas, Elzinga punted the ball 145 times and averaged 43 yards per punt. He was the highest graded punter in the MAC according to Pro Football Focus on 55 attempts in 2022.
He led the MAC in net punt average at 40.1 yards per attempt and hang-time at 3.9 seconds per punt. Elzinga was third in the MAC in punts downed inside the 20 with 25.
Elzinga also threw one pass for 20 yards in 2022 on a fake field goal attempt. That was an element of Michael Turk’s game that showed up in 2022 and was very effective for the Sooners. Elzinga’s ability to throw the ball could provide special teams coordinator Jay Nunez with some intriguing fake field goal and punt options in 2023.
#MACtion is love, #MACtion is life 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/zPBy2kDmLI
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 3, 2022
The former All-MAC punter joins a competition that includes Arizona State transfer Josh Plaster and redshirt freshman Brady Braun.
Excited for the next chapter! Thank you @nunez_jay @CoachVenables for this opportunity! #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/vr8VKR7d6p
— Luke Elzinga (@ElzingaLuke) January 1, 2023
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