Crimson Countdown: No. 36 Josh Plaster
The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2024 Oklahoma football season. Fans have been waiting for what feels like forever with this one. The Sooners are finally and officially joining the SEC.
The 2023 season was a rebound one for head coach Brent Venables, getting the program back to its standard. OU went 10-3 in Venables’ second season, now it’s time for year No. 3.
Every day as we get closer to kickoff, SoonerScoop.com will count down the days with you. Starting with No. 99 and working our way to No. 0, we’ll be there every step of the way.
Crimson Countdown: No. 36 Josh Plaster
2023 stats: Played all 13 games, 14 punts for 40.3-yard average, five inside the 20 yard line.
2024 outlook:
Can Plaster earn his job back? That is the question. Plaster was replaced at punter midway through last season by Luke Elzinga. It felt like Elzinga took the ball and ran with it. We’ll see how that has affected Plaster since.
Whether or not he’s the starting punter, Plaster does have a big role. Plaster was the holder for the Sooners in 2023. There is zero reason to suggest that’s going to change.
Plaster averaged 40 yards per kick on 14 punts last season.
2024 special teams outlook
Special teams figures to be one of the more varied possible outcomes on the roster. Oklahoma returns starters at punter, kicker, and long snapper. But after a mixed bag of results in 2023 the Sooners are now with a new position coach in Doug Deakin from San Diego State. Punter Luke Elzinga seems a safe bet as does long snapper Ben Anderson but the battle at kicker between incumbent Zach Schmit and Tyler Keltner could be pivotal to the team’s success in what figures to be a season of tight games.
