Texas Tech University Athletics
Karoll named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
September 14, 2026 | Football
Texas Tech’s punter kept Oregon State in negative field position with four punts inside the 20 last Saturday
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior punter Will Karoll was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after consistently flipping the field for the Red Raiders in their win over Oregon State.
Karoll, who earned a conference weekly award for the first time in his career, averaged 44.4 yards over seven punts in the win, pushing Oregon State deep in its own territory in the process. Oregon State was unable to return any of Karoll's punts as the Beavers started each of their ensuing drives inside their own 30-yard line. Four of those drives started inside the 20, including three in the first half when Oregon State was forced to start drives at the 9, 10 and 16-yard lines.
Karoll's final punt of the night went 48 yards and was downed at the 14-yard line, placing the Beavers deep in their own territory for a potential game-winning drive. The Red Raiders forced a turnover on downs on that drive and proceeded to find the end zone three plays later to put the game away via a Matt Ludwig touchdown reception from Thomas Castallanos.
Following this weekend, Karoll leads the Big 12 with a 45.8 punt average, which also ranks eighth in the FBS. The Australian native previously began his career with punts of 50 and 51 yards in Texas Tech's season-opening victory over Abilene Christian, with only one of those returned for negative-1 yard. Texas Tech also ranks 12th nationally as a team with a 45.9 net punting average entering the Big 12 opener Friday night versus No. 22 Houston.
In addition to conference honors, Karoll was also tabbed to the Ray Guy Award "Ray's 8," which recognizes the nation's top weekly punting performances. Karoll was joined on that list by Michigan's Cam Brown, TCU's John Hoyet Chance, Middle Tennessee's Ashton Logan, Oklahoma's Grayson Miller, Clemson's Jack Smith, Army's James Wagenseller and Texas A&M's Tyler White.
Kickoff between Texas Tech and Houston is slated for 7 p.m. Friday evening inside Galaxy Stadium. Coverage will be provided nationally on FOX and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
Karoll, who earned a conference weekly award for the first time in his career, averaged 44.4 yards over seven punts in the win, pushing Oregon State deep in its own territory in the process. Oregon State was unable to return any of Karoll's punts as the Beavers started each of their ensuing drives inside their own 30-yard line. Four of those drives started inside the 20, including three in the first half when Oregon State was forced to start drives at the 9, 10 and 16-yard lines.
Karoll's final punt of the night went 48 yards and was downed at the 14-yard line, placing the Beavers deep in their own territory for a potential game-winning drive. The Red Raiders forced a turnover on downs on that drive and proceeded to find the end zone three plays later to put the game away via a Matt Ludwig touchdown reception from Thomas Castallanos.
Following this weekend, Karoll leads the Big 12 with a 45.8 punt average, which also ranks eighth in the FBS. The Australian native previously began his career with punts of 50 and 51 yards in Texas Tech's season-opening victory over Abilene Christian, with only one of those returned for negative-1 yard. Texas Tech also ranks 12th nationally as a team with a 45.9 net punting average entering the Big 12 opener Friday night versus No. 22 Houston.
In addition to conference honors, Karoll was also tabbed to the Ray Guy Award "Ray's 8," which recognizes the nation's top weekly punting performances. Karoll was joined on that list by Michigan's Cam Brown, TCU's John Hoyet Chance, Middle Tennessee's Ashton Logan, Oklahoma's Grayson Miller, Clemson's Jack Smith, Army's James Wagenseller and Texas A&M's Tyler White.
Kickoff between Texas Tech and Houston is slated for 7 p.m. Friday evening inside Galaxy Stadium. Coverage will be provided nationally on FOX and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
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