Sophomore Dan Bailey supplanted Luke Ricks at kicker late last season. Bailey struggled in limited chances but should start the season ahead of freshman Quinn Sharp. The Cowboy special teams are also highlighted by punter Matt Forge and talented return man Perrish Cox.
The Cowboys are expecting a strong special teams group to return for the 2008 season with a big-name newcomer hoping to see some playing time.
Freshman kicker Quinn Sharp is trying to make an impact for OSU after the team’s combined field goal percentage was 53.6 percent in 2007.
Dan Bailey is the starting kicker after replacing Jason Ricks, who is no longer on the team’s roster. Bailey was 2-4 in field goal opportunities last year.
Sharp, an All-State kicker from Texas, was the most decorated high school kicker in the country last season. With a career-long 55-yard field goal, Sharp is looking to take the starting position from Bailey.
Senior Matt Fodge is looking to continue his already stellar punting career.
Fodge won the starting job as a true freshman, and if he continues to maintain his career average this season, then he will rank among the best punters ever at OSU.
“I haven’t really thought about it much,” Fodge said.
“It would be an honor to have that title, but I’m not focusing on that much right now.”
Snapping to Fodge for his fourth year as a starter is senior Zach Allen.
Allen has played in every game since joining the team as a true freshman in 2005.
Returning on the receiving end of the ball is junior defensive back Perrish Cox.
Cox returned 17 punts for 188 yards with a 67-yard return for a touchdown and returned 31 kickoffs for 665 yards with a 98-yard return for a touchdown in 2007.
He was one of three players in America with a kickoff and punt return for a touchdown.
The question remains of who will be returning kickoffs alongside Cox.
Junior running back Keith Toston is the remaining player on the team who returned kicks in 2007.
However, he only received two kickoffs for 46 yards with a 28-yard return being his longest.
Sophomore receiver Dez Bryant is a candidate for kickoff returns, but also has little experience in returning after receiving two punts in 2007. Receiver Bo bowling is also a candidate to return kicks.
“I just want to help the team,” Cox said. “If that means blocking and letting another guy return, that’s what I’ll do.”
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