Sam Keltner Appears To Have Clutch Gene Following Performance Against Oregon

STILLWATER – We wrote a story about kicker Sam Keltner just ahead of the season to give people an idea of who Oklahoma State’s new kicker is. Keltner transferred to OSU from SMU after one season, where he went 14-of-20 on field goals and hit 36 extra points for a total of 78 points. 

Through the first two games, Keltner has been automatic as he’s gone 5-for-5 on field goals and has hit four extra points. Four of his field goals were clutch kicks in the 39-31 upset of No. 6 Oregon, give the Pokes 15 points, both being career-highs for Keltner.

“We put him in situations that you can never replicate going out against a top 10 team in front of 60,000 people with a game on the line,” Eric Morris said on Tuesday. “You can't replicate that. We try to put him in situations in practice where that can happen. I think it’s just his work and preparation that allowed him to go out there and have the confidence. He's played a ton of football. It’s not the first time he's been out there. He's an older guy and at SMU as their starting placekicker. He’s been in those situations.”

Keltner, who met with the media on Tuesday, agreed with Morris’ assessment of if there was really any pressure on Saturday.

“Really no. It just goes to a lot of the preparation we've been through and the relationships that I built with the guys on the line, snapper, holder,” Keltner said. “I mean, those are just my buddies. And just going out there with those guys, I really don't feel much because I know they have my back and I got theirs.”

All four field goals were important, but the final two were very clutch. He hit a 44-yarder with 31 seconds left in the third quarter to put the Cowboys up six, 30-24. Less than a minute later is when Dante Moore hit Evan Stewart from 38 yards out to give the Ducks their first lead since early in the second quarter, 31-30.

A few minutes later is when Mestemaker had his potential Heisman moment as he jumped into the end zone to put the Cowboys up 36-31 with the failed two-point conversion. Keltner’s clutch 31-yard field goal at the 3:11 mark in the fourth quarter put the Cowboys up eight points, 39-31, to officially seal the game for the Pokes.

Following the game, Keltner picked up a few awards, such as the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, as well as the Lou Groza Star of the Week. 

“It was a lot of fun,” Keltner said. “It's really fun to get off to a good start because it kind of takes the weight off you as far as pressure-wise. Last season I didn't have a great start, and that wasn't fun. So, it's fun to be on the other side of that coin this year. I mean, it was just really special. I mean, just that crowd, this place, and it was just fun.”

Keltner gets a chance to improve upon his season stats this coming Saturday as the Pokes play host to Murray State in the final non-conference game of the season at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.