NORMAN — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops gets defensive when questions arise about his program’s special teams units. It’s true, there’s been many good things about OU’s special teams in recent seasons.
But there’s always one thing weighing OU down like an anchor.
The place-kicking job was that thing last season, with the Sooners losing two games by one point and another by a field goal.
Stoops admits his No. 1 concern heading into the Sept. 4 season opener against Utah State is finding a consistent kicker. With 11 days to go, it hasn’t happened yet.
“There isn’t anybody who has nailed it down,” he said. “They’re fine at times and then they won’t be.”
The competition between Jimmy Stevens, Patrick O’Hara, Michael Hunnicutt and Bryce Easley has been one of the most watched of the preseason.
It is waged every day, but there always seems to be a different outcome. It has Stoops frustrated.
“Bryce has been the least consistent. Patrick still has the biggest leg from any big distance,” Stoops said. “The other guys are still working on it.”
And they’re going to keep working on it right up until the opener and beyond. None appear to have a leg up.
Stevens, a junior, has the experience edge, connecting on 19 of 25 attempts over the past two seasons. But his lack of range — none of his makes are beyond 40 yards — leaves the door open.
O’Hara, a sophomore, seemed to take the job away last season, but missing three kicks the last two games and inconsistency in the spring and in August have hurt him. Hunnicutt and Easley are both freshmen, but neither have been consistent enough to push themselves to the top.
That aside, everything else is set.
Punter Tress Way was part of the place-kicking corps last season, but once he was removed from it, he took off as the punter. He averaged 45.7 yards a kick last season. The sophomore could be an All-American this season.
“I’ve got a lot more confidence. Last year, I was just trying to prove myself as a punter. It was my first year to really try to punt competitively. I punted some in high school, but concentrated on place-kicking mostly. But this year I feel really comfortable,” Way said. “My main goal this year is to just help out the defense. I want to pin people deep and let our nasty defense take over.”
Way could still be the guy for kickoffs. He and Hunnicutt are still vying for the job.
The return game appears to be on solid ground.
DeMarco Murray will return kicks this season after being kept off special teams last year. The senior running back is expected to energize the return game. He averaged 28.2 yards per return his freshman and sophomore seasons and has scored two touchdowns.
“I’m not worried about the injuries or anything like that, so hopefully they’ll allow me to continue to do it,” Murray said.
OU will also have fellow running back Mossis Madu, defensive back Demontre Hurst and wide receiver Cameron Kenney ready to go. Stoops said any of OU’s running backs could be called on.
Punt return duties belong to Ryan Broyles, who ranked No. 3 in the nation last season with 730 punt return yards.
Long snapper James Winchester moves into the starting role after serving as a backup the last two seasons. The holder job is a competition between two walk-ons. Quarterback John Nimmo, a senior, and freshman receiver Nyko Symonds have been getting reps.
But who will they be holding for?
Until that question’s settled, the jury will be out on OU’s special teams.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
