Upcoming Event: Football versus UTEP on September 4, 2026 at 7 p.m. CT
7 p.m. CT
Football
vs UTEP
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Morgan Givens/University of Oklahoma
Freeman Named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
September 04, 2023 | Football
NORMAN — Oklahoma wide receiver Gavin Freeman has been named the Big 12 co-Special Teams Player of the Week after registering an 82-yard punt return in OU's 73-0 season-opening win over Arkansas State on Saturday, the league office announced Monday.
The sophomore from Oklahoma City returned the first punt of the game 82 yards for a touchdown to give the Sooners a 14-0 lead. Freeman, who returned another punt eight yards and caught four passes for 19 yards, including a 7-yarder for his first career receiving touchdown, became just the fourth Sooner to score a TD on his first career punt return. The punt return was OU's first for a TD since 2016 and its longest since 2013. It also represents one of just three punt return TDs nationally this season and the longest.
This marks the second straight season Freeman scored a TD on his first touch of the year. He notched his first career touchdown on a 46-yard rush in the 2022 season opener against UTEP. He has scored three career touchdowns – one rushing, one receiving and one on special teams.
This is Freeman's first Big 12 honor.
No. 20/19 Oklahoma (1-0) plays host to SMU (1-0) Saturday at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and the game will be televised on SoonerVision on ESPN+.
The sophomore from Oklahoma City returned the first punt of the game 82 yards for a touchdown to give the Sooners a 14-0 lead. Freeman, who returned another punt eight yards and caught four passes for 19 yards, including a 7-yarder for his first career receiving touchdown, became just the fourth Sooner to score a TD on his first career punt return. The punt return was OU's first for a TD since 2016 and its longest since 2013. It also represents one of just three punt return TDs nationally this season and the longest.
This marks the second straight season Freeman scored a TD on his first touch of the year. He notched his first career touchdown on a 46-yard rush in the 2022 season opener against UTEP. He has scored three career touchdowns – one rushing, one receiving and one on special teams.
This is Freeman's first Big 12 honor.
No. 20/19 Oklahoma (1-0) plays host to SMU (1-0) Saturday at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and the game will be televised on SoonerVision on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ FootballThursday, June 25
Monday, June 22
Monday, May 18
Thursday, April 30
