Union grad Jed Barnett booming punts for Oklahoma Sooners

Junior college route

Barnett was an all-state punter his senior year for Union, averaging more than 50 yards per punt. He gained attention on the recruiting scene by shining at kicking camps, including the Chris Sailer national kicking event in Las Vegas.

Few Division-I schools, however, spend scholarships on kickers. He had offers from Louisiana Tech and Idaho State, but had his mind set on punting in a top conference.

Barnett walked on at California in 2010. He spent a redshirt year behind Bryan Anger, one of the nation’s best who now punts in the NFL for Jacksonville.

He hoped to earn a scholarship, but suffered a herniated disk and missed the 2011 season.

He transferred to Laney College in Oakland, where he shined in 2012. He was ranked the No. 2 junior college punter nationwide by 247sports.com after averaging 41.3 yards a kick.

Oklahoma came calling in November 2012. Within three days of visiting the campus, he committed to the Sooners and was offered a scholarship.

“I learned not to take anything for granted,” Barnett said in a phone interview Monday. “Everything is earned, but being able to do this is also a big gift. I remind myself of that when I practice or during a workout.”

Not a punchline

Barnett is just like every punter: He hears the jokes. They all have to do with punters not being real football players.

At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Barnett looks like he belongs on a football field. He can make a tackle when needed.

“There are times when you need to make a play,” Barnett said. “The specialists, we take our workouts very seriously. But the jokes come with the territory.”

Barnett plays a key role for a team with national-title aspirations. A long kick can change the momentum of a game. Pinning an opposing team inside the 20-yard line is not just a bonus — it is expected of a punter at Barnett’s level.

“I can’t speak for other teams, but the guys on this team understand the importance,” Barnett said. “It’s wanting to pin them back, but there’s also a feeling of helping out the defense.”

To stay ready, Barnett has a routine with OU’s long-snapper that begins the moment an Oklahoma drive starts.

On first down, he will kick into the warmup net. On second down, he will receive snaps from the long-snapper. On third down, he joins the punt unit in a huddle on the sideline.

If the offense makes a first down, the routine starts over. If not, it’s go time.

While Barnett might not be involved in most big plays, he does experience a thrill that few college athletes ever do — running out of a tunnel into the deafening din of 82,000 people on game day.

He counts that as his favorite college football experience.

“You get chills coming out of that tunnel.”