During the summer, ESPN.com is taking a closer look at each scholarship player on Oklahoma’s roster in our Crimson Countdown series. Each day, we analyze each player’s impact on the program since arriving on campus, his potential impact this fall, and his long-term projection. Starting with No. 1 Dominique Alexander, the series follows the roster numerically through No. 98 Chuka Ndulue.
No. 18 Michael Hunnicutt, kicker, 6-foot-1, 178 pounds, senior
Impact thus far: Hunnicutt rivals any player on the roster in terms of his impact on the program during his career. He completely stabilized the Sooners' kicking game when he took over place kicking duties in 2011. Hunnicutt made 21 of 24 field goals as a freshman, 17 of 21 field goals as a sophomore and 24 of 27 field goals as a junior. He’s made 86.1 percent of his career field goal attempts, including 72.7 percent of his attempts from 40 yards or longer (8 of 11) and 97.5 percent of his career PATs (159 of 163).
Impact in 2014: Hunnicutt should continue to be one of the nation’s top kickers and give the Sooners piece of mind that they will get points every time they drive inside the opponent’s 30-yard line.
Long term upside: The senior is already among the nation’s best at his position. It could be an All-American final season for Hunnicutt.
Evaluation grade for Hunnicutt: B. The Sooners didn’t give him a scholarship out of high school, the lone reason they don’t get an A. But he was a walk-on who has made a major impact in every season of his career.
Development grade for Hunnicutt: A. Even though he was a walk-on the Sooners didn’t hesitate to give him the starting job as soon as he earned it as a redshirt freshman. And they promptly put him on scholarship.
Quotable: “Michael has been excellent all spring. He has been great and I think he is within an eyelash of being a First Team All-American a year ago. He is set to have a big year.” -- coach Bob Stoops after the spring game.
