Oklahoma adds another player from one of worst FBS football programs

Brent Venables has started a pipeline to Oklahoma that might be a little leaky.

The Sooners on Thursday announced the signing of kicker Austin Welch out of the transfer portal. Welch became the third transfer OU has gotten from Kennesaw State, joining punter Jacob Ulrich and tight end Carson Kent.

For those likely unfamiliar with Kennesaw State, the Owls have had a football program for only 10 years now. The program just finished its first season at the FBS level and went 2-10 after joining Conference USA last year.

According to CBS Sports' college football rankings that include every FBS team, the Owls are ranked 133rd, ahead of only winless Kent State.

Although the Owls were dysfunctional on offense and defense this season, they were exceptional on special teams, and that's where two of OU's three Kennesaw State additions came from.

The Owls ranked ninth this season in special teams effeciency, according to ESPN's FPI. Welch was an integral part of that at kicker. Welch, as a redshirt junior, made 12 of 14 field-goal attempts with a long of 49 yards.

Welch spent just one season with Kennesaw State after transferring from Eastern Kentucky. He has one year of eligibility left.

OU needed a kicker with both Zach Schmit and Tyler Keltner exhausting their eligibility.

The Sooners also grabbed Kennesaw State's other specialist in punter Jacob Ulrich, who was OU's first commitment out of the transfer portal this cycle.

Ulrich led the FBS in punting yards and was second in punt attempts this season as a redshirt freshman. He averaged 46 yards a punt attempt. Ulrich should immediately start for the Sooners to replace Luke Elzinga and has three years of eligibility left.

Overall, the Sooners have added 12 players from the transfer portal so far. And with the portal now closed for OU players, the Sooners lost 26.

The Sooners should still have more talent coming from the transfer portal, but hopefully that's it from Kennesaw State.