BYU Kicker Jake Oldroyd Moving On After New Mexico Bowl

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The BYU experience has been quite the journey for kicker Jake Oldroyd.

From bombarding former BYU coaches Ty Detmer and Ed Lamb with his Southlake Carroll High film in hopes of a roster spot to becoming a Lou Groza Award finalist. Then dealing with the mental rut of missed kicks, Oldroyd has seen it all at BYU.

#BYU vs. SMU in the @NMBowl#BYUFootball @kslsports pic.twitter.com/ooj8gKZn7K

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 15, 2022

The last time Oldroyd will suit up for the BYU football program will be this Saturday at the New Mexico Bowl against a hometown school in SMU.

It could be a game that cements Oldroyd in the BYU record books. He needs three more points to beat Mitch Payne’s record of most points scored in a BYU career (334).

New Mexico Bowl will be the last game for Jake Oldroyd

“This is it for me,” Jake Oldroyd said. “So my last game will be fun.”

Despite enrolling at BYU in 2016, Oldroyd still had another year of eligibility remaining in 2023, thanks to the free COVID year in 2020. But he’s not taking that as his post-football life is already taking shape.

“I’ll give [the NFL] a shot. I figure, why not? I already have a job I’ve accepted. So I’ll be working in the area and training leading up to Pro Day. I’ll put myself out there and see if there are any takers.”

Thanks everyone for all of the love and support. My brothers had my back last night. Next game. Next kick.

— Jake Oldroyd (@JakeOldroyd39) September 11, 2022

Oldroyd said he had accepted a tech sales position for a security company if the NFL doesn’t come calling.

Bouncing back from adversity

The 2022 season has been a tough one for Oldroyd. He experienced early season struggles that put him in the spotlight for the wrong reasons as a kicker. There were critical misses against Baylor and Oregon. But since he returned to the starting lineup after being benched against Notre Dame, he’s made his last three field goal attempts.

“That’s the most important thing to me. You’re not going to make every kick, you’re going to miss important kicks, and you’re going to make important kicks. So when you get in a little bit of a rut like that, the biggest thing is how you’re going to respond. I feel like I’ve put together a string of solid games here at the end of the year, and that’s all I can ask for. You know, if I get opportunities to close out my career strong here at the end, that’ll be great.”

The adversity Oldroyd faced this year wasn’t what ultimately led him to move on. Instead, he had an idea before the season that the 2022 campaign would be his last.

“I was almost certain [this would be my last year],” Oldroyd said. “There was a small chance I’d come back, but I was pretty sure I was going to call it after this year.”

One final opportunity

When he lines up on Saturday in University Stadium, he won’t be wearing his signature green cleats that he wore in his game-winner against Arizona in 2016. He brought those back for Senior Day against Utah Tech, but now those have been put to rest as he gets ready for one final game as a BYU Cougar.

Welcome Dinner at the @NMBowl@BYUFootball vs. @SMUFB pic.twitter.com/yE9vkkLlsz

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 15, 2022

“It’s surreal. I think it’ll be even more so when I’m actually out there for the last time,” Oldroyd said. “I kind of felt part of that playing the last game at home. It’s been a long ride. I definitely feel like it’s been fulfilling. I feel fullfed here at the end of my five years. So I’m ready to call it. But feel good about how things have gone.”

BYU vs. SMU

2022 New Mexico Bowl

Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MT)

TV: ABC

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM – Extended pregame begins at Noon)

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Mitch will be in Albuquerque for the 2022 New Mexico Bowl between BYU and SMU. Follow his coverage on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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