Untitled Article

April 5, 2013 | Spring Football Central | Football Notebook | Roster | Twitter

Many Happy Returns

If you think Jay Boulware is excited to have a trio of explosive return men in his repertoire like Brennan Clay, Roy Finch and Jalen Saunders, you'd be 100 percent correct.

"You can start and end right there," Boulware grinned. "I tell those guys all the time, I haven't been around--and I've been around quite a bit, when we were in this conference last time we had the No. 12 kick return team and I had a freshman All-American at Iowa State and we broke a record against Oklahoma State, 319 kick return yards--and none of these kids that I've been around at my last two stops were nearly as talented as these kids are as return men. I tell these kids all the time, there's no reason they shouldn't be the most feared return units in the country because they are that talented, in my opinion.

"Normally special teams coordinators don't say that unless it's true, and it is true," OU's special teams coordinator continued. "Those guys are literally dangerous in my opinion. I haven't had a punt returner that good ever (Saunders).

While Saunders hadn't heard Boulware's comments, they weren't particularly surprising given the fact that Saunders average 17.6 yards per punt return last season, including an 81-yard TD that helped spark a frenetic fourth quarter in a 51-48 OT win vs. Oklahoma State (11/25/12).

"It is good to know that he has our back and has real love for us," Saunders said of his coach's observations. "He doesn't know us too well yet because it's his first spring with us and I am just really happy and looking forward to get to know him as the season goes on in spring and everything. He has been great so far and I know he is going to do great special teams wise coaching us up."

In 2012, Finch led the Sooners by averaging 31.0 yards per punt return, while Clay broke off 20 kickoff returns for 507 yards, good for a 25.4 average. Finch scored on a 100-yard kickoff return TD vs. Kansas (10/20/13), marking the first time the Sooners had ever registered a punt and a kickoff return TD in the same game as Justin Brown scored on a 90-yard punt return in that contest.

"It's going to be up to the other 10 members (of the return units) to do their jobs," Boulware continued. "If they do their jobs effectively and they get on guys, there's going to be some excitement that happens on the football field."

That sort of talk quickly gets the attention of players like Finch and Saunders.

"It just speaks testament to our team and speaks testament to how much talent we have on this team," Finch said of the Sooners' explosiveness in the return game. "It all starts on the practice field and translate to the game. Just to hear Coach Boulware to say that about us motivates us ad puts a smile on my face to go out there and compete and get better because that is what they want us to do."

"It is a great feeling because if they do their job then I know I will be able to do my job," Saunders said of his blocking unit on punt returns. "When everybody does one thing it is like a domino effect. One person has to do their job for everyone else to do their own part, too."

Punting Competition

While there has been plenty of competition on the practice field this spring, one position that hasn't received a ton of public scrutiny has been the battle between punters Jed Barnett and Jack Steed. Barnett averaged 41.3 yards per punt last season at Laney College, while Steed was redshirted.

"He's one of the few guys I've seen at punter that's a true two-stepper," Boulware said of Barnett. "He does it a little bit differently than most guys I've ever seen. That in itself is a really good characteristic to have because that means his catch-to-kick time is below average.

"I've been pleased with the progress in all phases of special teams so far. I believe we're getting closer to what I want it to look like and I think they're understanding what we're asking them to do."

Barnett, who began his collegiate career at the University of California, is quickly acclimating himself to campus and the culture of OU Football. In fact, Barnett has rekindled a friendship with kicker Michael Hunnicutt.

"Knowing Michael has been huge for me," Barnett acknowledged. ""We kicked at a several kicking camps together and kind of developed a relationship. So when he was my host on my official visit, we clicked. We are really close and we live together so it's a great fit."

Not surprisingly, these two roommates have plenty to discuss back at their bachelor pad after practice.

"We are always talking about kicking," Barnett laughed. "I think it's perfect because we are a unique position and unique people so it's awesome because we are on the same schedule. We have the same meetings and same lifting so we hold each other accountable and push each other to the highest standard."

Barnett has even made a point of looking up Tress Way, who just happens to hold the best career punting average in OU history.

"He just gave me some tips on how things operate and what he did and kind of give me something I can use if I want to or not," Barnett said of his conversations with Way. "It has been awesome because he left a huge legacy here and to just pick his brain with certain things whether it is on the field or off the field he has been really helpful."

Talking Tight Ends

Make no mistake, there's a great history of exceptional tight ends at the University of Oklahoma. From Keith Jackson to Jermaine Gresham, plenty of talented performers have plied that trade for the Sooners. While no one is projecting OU's current group of tight ends to develop into future Pro Bowlers just yet, Boulware has been pleased with what he's seen from Brannon Green, Taylor McNamara and Sam Grant.

"They're working hard; they're getting better every day," he said. "We're just plugging away, just trying to find our niche at every position really all over the place. Who are the best eleven out there? If you want to be on the field, you have to be part of the best 11. That's the way it is every place I've been."

Green and McNamara both saw limited action last season, while Grant was redshirted. But according to Boulware, there's plenty of potential to like about the 6-7, 250-pound Grant, who hails from North Royalton, Ohio.

"He's an extremely tough kid," Boulware said. "His work ethic is immeasurable. He tries to do everything you want him to do. And he's smart. He has all the characteristics to be a good player, and that's what I look for in guys. I'd rather have to say 'wow' than 'sic 'em.' And I have to say 'wow' to Sam."

FRIDAY'S PRACTICE
The Sooners practiced in beautiful 60-degree weather Friday, marking OU's ninth workout of the spring. Here's the latest from Norman:

Photo Gallery (64 photos)
Video

Spring Practice Report No. 9
Video

Mic'd Up: Coach Jay Boulware

INSTAGRAM P.O.T.D.
The Sooners practiced on Owen Field on Friday afternoon. Check us out on Instagram at @ou_football:

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK
Jay Boulware was the assistant coach who was wired for sound during Friday's practice. Up next will be Josh Heupel on Tuesday.
Head coach Bob Stoops and his staff hosted approximately 150-200 high school coaches for the annual OU Coaches Clinic on Friday.
The Sooners will get an early start on Saturday with breakfast and meetings prior to hitting the field at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Saturday's practice is expected to feature several team situations as the club prepares for the OU Spring Game on April 13.

THE TIGHT ENDS
Senior Brannon Green | Bio
Played in 12 games last season, catching three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
First career reception went for an 18-yard TD in the season opener at UTEP.

So. Taylor McNamara | Bio
Played in two games with one start before receiving a medical redshirt due to a shoulder injury.
Started against Florida A&M.

THE SPECIALISTS
RS-Jr. Michael Hunnicutt | Bio
Converted 38 of 45 (.844) field goals and 112 of 115 (.974) PATs in his career.
Made 11-straight field goals last season.

Junior Jed Barnett | Bio
Transfer from Laney College (Oakland, Calif.)
Averaged 41.3 yards per punt on 65 attempts.

RS-Fr. Jack Steed | Bio
Katy, Texas, native redshirted for the Sooners last fall.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay in tune and go behind-the-scenes with Oklahoma football via our primary social media platforms on Twitter and Instagram:

Twitter: @OU_Football
Instagram: @OU_Football

SPRING CENTRAL
Track all of our spring football content from analysis to video and photos in Spring Football Central, as well as a practice schedule:

Spring Central | Schedule

QUOTABLE

Coach Jay Boulware
"(Taylor McNamara) has shown some very good ability of getting down the field and running great routes. That's the thing that you see in him over and over again. He can run routes uncharacteristically well for a tight end. I've been pleased with him on that standpoint, but we're working with him on all other phases of the game."

Senior OL Bronson Irwin
"I think we're moving the ball well in general. It's always important to establish a run. For any offensive line you want to be physical and have a physical presence, and I think we've done a pretty good job doing that, but we've just got to get better."

Players Mentioned

Jed Barnett

Brennan Clay

Roy Finch

Sam Grant

Michael Hunnicutt

Bronson Irwin

Taylor McNamara

Jalen Saunders

Jack Steed

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics