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Oklahoma football: Punter Michael Turk a 2022 Ray Guy Award semifinalist

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Michael Turk (37) punts a ball in the second half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.Presto Id
Oklahoma's Michael Turk (37) punts a ball in the second half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.Presto Id /
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Oklahoma football punter Michael Turk has had quite a week.

After the Sooners’ Bedlam win over in-state rival Oklahoma State, Turk proposed to his longtime girlfriend and Sooner softball star Grace Lyons, and on Monday he found out that he is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2022 Ray Guy Award recognizing college football’s best punter.

Turk, a former Arizona State transfer, is in his second season with Oklahoma. A Dallas, Texas, native, Turk leads the Big 12 and ranks fourth nationally, averaging 46.5 yards per punt.

A super senior in his final season of eligibility, Turk has punted 57 times this season, and 18 of those punts were 50 yards or longer. Nineteen have been downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, 47 have not been returned and the 10 that were returned have averaged three yards and no longer than 13 yards.

Seven of Turk’s punts this season have been longer than 60 yards. In the Sooners’ win over Oklahoma State over the weekend, Turk had a 63- and 67-yarder on consecutive punts.

Turk is tied with Jack Jacobs (early 1940s) for second in OU football history with 14 punts of longer than 60 yards. With two more of that length, he will tie Tress Way’s record of 16 (2008-12)

The Ray Guy Award was first presented in 2000. An Oklahoma player has never won the award.

The 10 semifinalists will be reduced to three finalists, who will be announced on Nov. 29. The winner of the 2022 Ray Guy Award will be announced live on Dec. 8 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.

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