Freshman Hartley Steps in to Kick for Sooners

NORMAN, Okla. -- With his experienced kicker slipping from steady to erratic, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has turned to a freshman to handle the placekicking in the Sooners' most important games of the season.

Garrett Hartley, an 18-year-old from Southlake, Texas, took over the starting job from junior Trey DiCarlo during Oklahoma's 35-0 win against Baylor on Saturday after DiCarlo missed a 42-yard field goal.

With the miss, DiCarlo fell to 50 percent on his field goals this season. He's made only eight of his 16 tries and hasn't made a kick of over 35 yards all season. He's 0-for-5 on kicks of 40 yards or more and has missed six of his last eight kicks.

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So, the Lou Groza Award finalist from a season ago is now headed to the bench.

``We just felt it was necessary,'' Stoops said. ``We had been more than patient.''

Hartley had been biding his time in practice. He passed DiCarlo on the depth chart in the preseason, but Stoops and the Sooners' coaches decided to go with DiCarlo's experience when it came time to start the season.

DiCarlo, who made 14 straight field goals at one point last season, made six of his first eight tries this season. Then the slump hit.

As DiCarlo struggled, Hartley continued to improve in practice. Coaches told him to be ready in case it was time for a change. As the No. 2 Sooners played their 11th game, it appeared Hartley would stay on the sidelines and keep his redshirt.

But when Stoops came calling, Hartley didn't hesitate to put the redshirt aside and get in the game immediately.

``It's not everyday you get a chance to play for this championship game and, if everything falls into place, hopefully another one, too,'' Hartley said.

Stoops said points are too critical at this point in the season to risk more misses.

``Championships are out there that we've got a legitimate shot for,'' Stoops said. ``At this point, this strengthened our team. We needed to do it and Garrett wanted to do it, so we went with it.''

Hartley said he had ``butterflies'' on his first of four successful extra-point tries Saturday against Baylor. He didn't have a chance to kick a field goal, but he said just getting on the field will help calm him when he plays in the Big 12 title game Dec. 4.

The crowd of 32,182 at Baylor last week was the largest Hartley has played in front of, and even more will be packed into Arrowhead Stadium for the conference championship. Hartley said he's thinking positively about the challenge.

``There's gonna be pressure on every single player out there to perform to the best of their capabilities,'' Hartley said. ``That's one thing that I like. Hopefully, I'll be able to handle it.''

Stoops said Hartley's range would be 50 yards ``and a little more.'' In high school, Hartley's career-long was from 52 yards out. DiCarlo's longest field goals in college were from 46 yards.

Stoops said he's comfortable relying on the freshman on the pressure-packed stage.

``He's been very consistent all through practice. He's got a great track record and background through high school,'' Stoops said. ``Not that that equates to the crowds and pressure that's here, but I think mechanically and the way he's skilled, I trust ... he'll be able to execute in a good way.''

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Freshman Hartley Steps in to Kick for Sooners

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