2019 Position Preview: Special Teams

For the first time since 2014, the Sooners will have a punter and placekicker not named Austin Seibert.

All Seibert did in his four years in Norman is become OU's and the Big 12's all-time leading scorer, and the FBS' all-time leading scorer among kickers, with 499 points. He also ranks second in school history in PAT percentage (.984) and in career field goals made (63), fourth in career field goal percentage (.797) and fifth in career punting average (41.7). The candidates to fill his placekicking duties are redshirt freshman Gabe Brkic and redshirt sophomore Calum Sutherland. Redshirt sophomore Reeves Mundschau is likely to take over the punting job. He was regarded by Kohl's kicking as the nation's second-best punter as a high school senior in 2016.

OU is in great shape elsewhere, with the return of long snapper Kasey Kelleher and longtime holder Connor McGinnis. The Sooners also welcome back primary kick returner Tre Brown and punt returner CeeDee Lamb, both of whom ranked among the Big 12 leaders at those responsibilities.

Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware is pleased with where the units are now, with just more than a week until the season opener.

"I think we've come along nicely," Boulware said. "We've gotten a lot of reps, a lot of team reps, a lot of different scenarios and situations, and we've gotten a look at a bunch of different guys. I think we're in a pretty good shape going into our first ballgame, in terms of our growth."

In terms of replacing the do-it-all Seibert, Boulware says the current Sooners kickers are on the right track.

"We have three specialists who are vying for three different jobs. Right now, where we are, all those guys are continuing to work hard. It's hard to replace an NFL guy. I think we'll do a good job and those guys are taking it personally a little bit to follow in those footsteps and do a good job to keep the same thing going."

Kickers & Punters

Calum Sutherland

Non-Lettermen Returning

Gabe Brkic (K/P, R-Fr.) – Played in 2018 season opener against Florida Atlantic and made lone extra-point attempt ... also kicked off four times in the contest and registered three touchbacks ... rated by Kohl's Kicking as the nation's No. 7 kicker and No. 22 punter in the 2018 class
Reeves Mundschau (P, R-So.) – Has yet to play in a game at OU ... rated as nation's No. 2 punter in 2016 by 247Sports and No. 3 by Kohl's and the No. 6 kicker by ESPN.
Calum Sutherland (K, R-So.) – Played in three games in 2018 (kicked off three times).

Snappers & Holders

Lettermen Returning

Kasey Kelleher (LS, R-So.) – Served as OU's snapper on punts and kicks in all 14 games in 2018.
Connor McGinnis (H, R-Sr.) – Reserve quarterback who has served as team's holder in every game the last three seasons.

Non-Lettermen Returning

Spencer Jones (H, R-Jr.) – A wide receiver by position, and OU's 2018 defensive scout team player of the year.

Returners

Tre Brown

Lettermen Returning

CeeDee Lamb (PR, Jr.) – A 2019 preseason AP second-team All-American as an all-purpose player … ranked second in Big 12 and eighth nationally by averaging 12.8 yards per punt return in 2018 ... registered returns of 66 yards (vs. UCLA) and 65 yards (vs. Oklahoma State).
Tre Brown (KR, Jr.) – A 2018 second-team All-Big 12 selection as a kick returner ... ranked 35th nationally with 23.7-yard kickoff return average ... returned 30 kickoffs with a long of 86 yards vs. UCLA.
T.J. Pledger (KR, So.) – Averaged 14.0 yards on two 2018 kickoff returns (long of 23)
Brendan Radley-Hiles (So.) - Averaged 26.7 yards on three 2018 kick returns (long of 32).

Notes

Oklahoma led the Big 12 and ranked 10th in the NCAA last season in punt coverage, allowing an average of just 3.5 yards per return. The Sooners' punt return unit averaged 14.5 yards per return, good for fourth in the Big 12 and 14th in the country.
OU's kickoff return team ranked second in the Big 12 and 31st in the nation, averaging almost 23 yards per return. Ninety-four of the Sooners' 116 kickoffs last season went for touchbacks (81 percent).
The Sooners recorded two blocked punts last year, both of which were returned for touchdowns. Lee Morris blocked a punt in the opener against FAU and Brayden Willis blocked one against Kansas. Curtis Bolton recovered both for touchdowns.
OU also added a blocked PAT last year. Former Sooner Amani Bledsoe got his hand on an extra point attempt against Texas in the Big 12 Championship.

Kickers & Punters

Non-Lettermen Returning

Snappers & Holders

Lettermen Returning

Non-Lettermen Returning

Returners

Lettermen Returning

Notes

Players Mentioned

Amani Bledsoe

Curtis Bolton

Gabe Brkic

Tre Brown

Spencer Jones

Kasey Kelleher

CeeDee Lamb

Connor McGinnis

Lee Morris

Reeves Mundschau

T.J. Pledger

Brendan Radley-Hiles

Austin Seibert

Brayden Willis

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics