LD Brown looking for opportunities on kickoff returns
STILLWATER — LD Brown sees the crowd around him.
He knows it won’t be easy getting carries in the Oklahoma State backfield, with one of the nation’s top running backs in Justice Hill at the front of the line, plus J.D. King and Chuba Hubbard in the scuffle with Brown for backup touches.
That’s why Brown cherishes every opportunity that arises, which includes his emergence as a kickoff returner in the second half of last season.
The redshirt sophomore had become the Cowboys’ primary option on kickoff returns, ultimately averaging 19.7 yards over nine attempts. And he’s craving the opportunity for more action this season.
“Any opportunity at all to get on the field is big,” Brown said. “Anywhere we’re able to be used, we’ll line up anywhere.
“It’s something I look forward to, and hopefully we can return some kicks for touchdowns. I don’t know the last time OSU had one, probably Tyreek Hill. So it’s time to get the returns going and open that back up for us.”
His first two years at OSU, Brown wore the same No. 24 jersey as Hill did in his lone season with the Cowboys. But this season, Brown is going back to his roots — in more ways than one — with his change to No. 7.
“That was the number I had growing up, my Little League number,” Brown said. “Also,
Tatum Bell, he wore No. 7 here. He played running back and he came from my part of town (DeSoto, Texas). I thought it’s pretty cool to have the same number as him, too.
“It’s always good to go back to your roots.”
Brown has some competition for kickoff return opportunities, with players such as Tyron Johnson, Tylan Wallace, Landon Wolf and Braydon Johnson involved as well.
And the new NCAA rule regarding fair catches on kickoffs will impact coach Mike Gundy’s strategy in how he uses his kickoff returners.
The rule calls for any fair catch made on a kickoff inside the 25-yard line to be ruled a touchback and brought to the 25 to start play.
“In my opinion, most
people are gonna do it,” Gundy said of fair catching kickoffs inside the 25. “I think it’s gonna be the most significant change we’ve had in college football in a while.”
As the season approaches, Gundy faces a few other minor questions on special teams. Jalen McCleskey, Dillon Stoner and Wallace have been involved in punt return work, with newcomer Kemah Siverand recently getting a look as well.
Redshirt freshman Jake McClure is expected to take over kickoff duties, which will put less on the plate of field goal kicker Matt Ammendola, a preseason selection to the Lou Groza Award watch list.
As reported last week, punter Zach Sinor recently underwent hernia surgery and his return date is not yet known. Should he miss any game action, senior Matt Hockett would be in line to handle punting.