Oklahoma State 2021 Spring Football Preview: Special Teams

With Saturday’s Spring Game just a day away, let’s cap our spring position previews, by looking at OSU’s oft-unappreciated, but crucial specialists.

Other Previews: QB | WR | RB | CW | OL | DL | LB | DB

The Specialists Room

P: Tom Hutton, Jr., 6-3, 201
K: Alex Hale, R-Jr., 6-0, 204
K: Brady Pohl, R-So., 6-2, 207
K: Mason Shipley, Fr., 6-0, 188
LS: Matt Hembrough, R-Sr., 6-3, 215
LS: Zeke Zaragoza, R-Sr., 5-10, 205

Top Storyline: Returning Aussies Solidify Kick Game

Oklahoma State returns both of its Australian-born specialists in kicker Alex Hale and punter Tom Hutton, meaning the Cowboys kicking game is in good hands (off good feet?) if they both stay healthy.

Alex Hale was off to a breakout sophomore campaign when a pregame injury in Norman ended his season. But in just six games prior to Bedlam, Hale did enough to earn an All-Big 12 honorable mention and be named a Lou Groza semifinalist.

Tom Hutton is entering Year 3 as the Pokes’ punter but is currently the only P designation on the roster. Hence, he’ll be punting for both the Orange and Black team during Saturday’s exhibition.

But that consistency at the top of both kicking positions led Mike Gundy to recently proclaim, “I expect us to be really good at special teams this year.”

???

Keep an Eye On: The Return Game

It’s been three years since Oklahoma State scored a touchdown on a punt return, breaking what was then a three-year drought. And before last season, the last Cowboy to return a kickoff for a touchdown was … Tyreek Hill.

A lot of that can be attributed to the NCAA’s rule change that moved kickoffs to the 35-yard line and probably even more can be laid at the feet of a cautious coaching staff.

But none of that will stop me from pounding on my desk every offseason, hoping the Cowboys can recapture their dynamic return game of yesteryear. Think Tyreek, Perrish Cox, Justin Gilbert and Josh Stewart. Dez. Barry. The list goes on.

Gundy quickly touched on the return game during his final spring media availability on Tuesday and it was all the fuel I needed.

“We have all our returns back with the exception of Stoner,” said Gundy, “but we have the young guys that are back that will give us a threat at the return position.”

I’m gonna go ahead and read in between the lines of “young guys” and “threat” and set the over/under on Brennan Presley special teams house calls at 1.5.

Presley caught four punts last year behind Dillon Stoner and caught seven kickoff returns behind Braydon Johnson so there’s some experience in the position. Hopefully, OSU puts one of its most electric playmakers in a position to do what he does best. You might keep an eye out for No. 80 on special teams this Saturday.