100 Days of Summer: Get to Know No. 29 Zach Sinor

We are less than a month away from the Cowboys’ season opener against Tulsa. As we continue on our countdown, let’s look at a wanna-be Heisman hopeful and his shot at winning a different award.

How he got to OSU

Sinor came to Oklahoma State by way of Medina Valley High School (Castroville, Texas). The story of how he went from junior-varsity QB to varsity punter is now the stuff of legend among OSU and Sinor fans alike. Sinor earned AP all-state selection his senior season after averaging 43.5 yards per punt and downing 16 of his 42 attempts inside the 20-yard line.

What he’s done in Stillwater

After a redshirt year in 2014, Sinor took over for departed punter Kip Smith and has started every game since. Over two seasons, Sinor has become the most effective punter in college football. Last season, 62.5 percent of his punts pinned the opposition inside its own 20-yard line. The closest any punter got was Ray Guy Award winner Mitch Wishnowsky. The Utah punter followed back-to-back winner Tom Hackett, meaning the last three Ray Guy trophies have gone to a Ute and Wishnowsky’s a candidate this year.

In an apparent attempt to avoid being overlooked again, Sinor and OSU have launched a not-so-cryptic Heisman campaign including a website, pamphlets and the takeover of Big 12 Media Days. If he follows up 2016 with a comparable season this year, he’ll make a real case to be just the second Cowboy to win a Ray Guy. Matt Fodge won it in 2008.

Role in 2017

Sinor enters his junior season firmly entrenched as the starter. He leads all specialists with 26 consecutive starts. Aside from his punting and holder duties, expect Sinor to continue his self-driven cult hero status among OSU fans.

Noteworthy stats and highlights

Upon arrival, Oklahoma State went from 43rd nationally in opponent’s starting field position to 17th in 2015. Last year, the Cowboys ranked 1st in that category and second in allowed punt return yardage thanks largely to Sinor’s strong and accurate leg.

One of the most impressive numbers of last season for Sinor is the number one. That’s how many of his punts ended in the end zone. Think about that. He dropped 35 in his team’s red zone and one crossed the goal line.

Below is a perfect example of what he does best. Good hang-time allows his coverage team to get to the returner and force him to call a fair catch. Correct distance to make sure it stays in side the goal line. Most importantly, he’s accurate enough to hit the returner and force him to take the punt for fear of muffing it. Punts like this aren’t sexy but there’s no silly pamphlet or fake website needed to see how important it is to OSU’s on-field success.

And that hang time allows your coverage team to make a play on the ball like on this muffed punt later in the Alamo Bowl.