One of the most electrifying plays in college football will be brought back to life this year.
With kickers routinely being able to boom kicks for touchbacks, the kickoff started to become nullified.
Not anymore. The NCAA decided in March to move the kickoff back from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line. The decision should lead to shorter kicks, thus more returns.
The rule change could prove to be a distinct advantage for the Oklahoma State football team.
The Cowboys return their starting kicker, punter and return specialist.
“It’s going to be huge,” junior kicker Jason Ricks said of the rule changes. “I think it’s going to be an advantage for us because we’ve always had a great kickoff return.”
Ricks added that an unpredictable play, just got a whole lot crazier.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Ricks said. “You’re going to see a lot more touchdowns. It’s going to be tough.”
Ricks and junior punter Matt Fodge are vying for the kickoff job. Ricks said whoever does the kicking will struggle to consistently put the ball in the end zone.
“(The rule changes) can hurt us, so me and Matt (Fodge) are trying to figure out the best way to work it out.
“It’s going to be tougher to kick it and get a touchback so you’re looking at one that might hit five feet from the end zone which last year would have been out.”
While the kickers will be at a disadvantage, sophomore cornerback Perrish Cox is licking his chops. The Cowboys’ top return man had a breakout freshman season. In fact, Cox scored on the first play of both his career and the 2006 season.
Now that Cox has made a name for himself, he expects teams to avoid him with specialty kicks.
“We’re thinking (opponents) are gonna start pooching it or squib kicking it or just kicking it short, but if so, we’re still gonna bring excitement to everybody,” Cox said. “We plan on returning quite a few (kicks) this year.”
The NCAA made other rule changes in addition to the kickoff being moved back. The clock will stop on changes of possession and won’t start on kickoffs until the return man touches the ball. The changes will likely add more plays to the game. Since OSU has a potent offense and a deadly return game, that may just give the Cowboys that extra edge this season.
“That’s exciting for us,” Fodge said. “Jason (Ricks) can put it in the end zone, I can put it in the end zone. Perrish can carry it out. I think it’s an advantage for us so I’m excited to see how it works out.”
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