Tate Sandell

Tate Sandell
No. 29  Oklahoma Sooners
PositionPlacekicker
Class
Redshirt
Redshirt
Junior
Personal information
Born (2003-10-14) October 14, 2003 (age 22)
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight182 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High schoolPort Neches–Groves
(Port Neches, Texas)
CollegeUTSA (2022–2024)
Oklahoma (2025–present)
Awards and highlights
Stats at ESPN

Tate Sandell (born October 14, 2003)[1] is an American college football placekicker for the Oklahoma Sooners. He previously played for the UTSA Roadrunners.

Early life

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Sandell is from Port Neches, Texas.[2] He attended Port Neches–Groves High School where he played football as a placekicker and wide receiver.[3] He also played soccer in high school.[1] In football, he set a school record with 67 extra points made.[1] Ranked one of the top-15 kicker recruits nationally, he signed to play college football for the UTSA Roadrunners.[4]

College career

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Sandell redshirted as a freshman at UTSA in 2022, recording 20 kickoffs and recovering an onside kick.[1] He remained a kickoff specialist in 2023, setting the team record for touchbacks with 42 while also making one of two field goal attempts.[1] He became the starting kicker as a redshirt-sophomore in 2024.[5] That season, he converted 19 of 23 field goals and 35 of 36 extra points, setting the school record for longest field goal after being successful on a 54-yard attempt.[6] He was named honorable mention All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) for his performance.[1]

Sandell transferred to the Oklahoma Sooners in 2025.[6] He set the school record for consecutive field goals made and also went viral for the short pants he wore when kicking, receiving national attention.[7] He led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in field goal percentage and made seven of seven attempts over 50 yards in the regular season, the best mark nationally.[8] He was named the 2025 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and Lou Groza Award winner for his performance.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Tate Sandell". UTSA Roadrunners.
  2. ^ Hoover, John (December 10, 2025). "Oklahoma Kicker Tate Sandell Lands Massive Honor from SEC". Sports Illustrated.
  3. ^ Moore, Chris (September 1, 2021). "Special teams weapon Tate Sandell gives Port Neches-Groves a leg up on opponents". Port Arthur News.
  4. ^ Faye, Matt (November 4, 2025). "Is Port Neches-Groves grad Tate Sandell the best kicker in college football?". Houston Chronicle.
  5. ^ Luca, Greg (October 23, 2024). "Tate Sandell finds footing as UTSA's new No. 1 kicker". San Antonio Express-News.
  6. ^ a b Faye, Matt (May 2, 2025). "Former Port Neches-Groves kicker transfers to Oklahoma Sooners". Beaumont Enterprise.
  7. ^ Jones, Alyse (November 15, 2025). "Who is the power-legged OU kicker who made national headlines for his short pants?". KOCO-TV.
  8. ^ Williams, John (December 10, 2025). "Oklahoma's Tate Sandell named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year". USA Today.
  9. ^ Cordova, Davis (December 10, 2025). "OU football's Tate Sandell named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year". Norman Transcript.
  10. ^ Sulley, Colton (2025-12-12). "OU's Tate Sandell wins Lou Groza Award as college football's top kicker". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
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