Done deal :Jay Nunez, an Oklahoma special teams analyst, have join Alabama’s staff.

Jay Nunez, an Oklahoma special teams analyst, have join Alabama’s staff.

Oklahoma’s coaching carousel has taken another turn, with the Sooners set to lose

a key support staff member to a soon-to-be SEC rival.

Jay Nunez, who worked as a senior special teams analyst for Brent Venables

the previous two seasons, is expected to join Kalen DeBoer’s inaugural Alabama staff, according to a source who spoke

with Sooners Illustrated and 247 Sports. OU Insider was the first to report Nunez’s departure.

It’s unclear what Nunez’s specific role will be with the Tide, as DeBoer’s on-field

coaching staff is already full following the reported addition of William Inge to the defensive roster. Nunez could take on

a similar role at Alabama as he did at Oklahoma, overseeing special teams operations as an off-field analyst.

Under Nunez’s leadership, the Sooners’ special teams were a mixed bag over two seasons. Oklahoma finished the 2022

season ranked 39th in ESPN’s SP+ — an opponent- and tempo-adjusted advanced efficiency metric — for special teams, but

that dropped significantly this season, as the unit was ranked 94th among FBS teams.

The Sooners, in particular, have struggled with their kicking game, with

Zach Schmit missing six field goals in consecutive seasons, including a 12-of-18

mark in 2022 and a 15-of-21 clip last fall, when he went only 2-of-5 on field goals

of 40 yards or more. Schmit finished tied for 81st nationally and 11th in the Big 12

in field goal efficiency in 2023, as the Sooners were unable to field a more

viable option on place kicks, thanks in part to Gavin Marshall’s undisclosed injury for much of the season.

Oklahoma also struggled in the punt game, with rival Texas blocking and

recovering a punt for a touchdown in the Red River Rivalry in October, and punt

returner Gavin Freeman struggling to field punts throughout the year. Freeman, who had a punt return for a

touchdown in the season opener, muffed four punts this year and averaged only 6.8 yards per return.

Last season, however, the Sooners excelled in a few aspects of special

teams. Luke Elzinga, a Central Michigan transfer punter, emerged as the starter at the position at midseason and averaged

46.5 yards per punt in the second half of the schedule, including three games in which he averaged 50 yards or more.

Oklahoma finished the year ranked 25th in the nation for the fewest yards allowed per punt return, at 4.69.

Nunez worked as the special teams coordinator, assistant head coach, and

defensive tackles coach at Eastern Michigan for five seasons before joining

Venables at Oklahoma. He was the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Southern Illinois in 2016,

after previously working as a special teams analyst at Minnesota from 2011 to 2015.

Cooper Perry, a Top247 wide receiver, returned to the road this weekend for

another important stop before the month-long recruiting dead period began.

Oklahoma had a chance to make an impression on the standout pass catcher

from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Notre Dame Prep, and the Sooners delivered.

KVIBEZSPORT