OSU position outlook: Specialists
Here's a look at the Oklahoma State specialists:
Starters
Placekicker
Matt Ammendola (RSr., 5-9, 195)
Punter
Tom Hutton (Fr., 6-3, 195)
Kickoff specialist
Jake McClure (RSo., 6-3, 200)
Long snapper
Matt Hembrough (RSo., 6-3, 192)
Returners
Dillon Stoner (RJr., 6-0, 198) LD Brown (RJr., 5-9, 191) Landon Wolf (RJr., 5-11, 174)
Scouting ahead
This season: Most of the excitement centers around Hutton, the 29-year-old Australian with the booming left leg. Ammendola has been streaky at times in his career, but hit his last three of the season, including a clutch 27-yarder in the fourth quarter of the Liberty Bowl victory that forced Missouri to play for a touchdown in the final minutes. Chuba Hubbard was the team's most dangerous kickoff returner last year, but in an effort to limit the contact absorbed by the team's feature back, he isn't expected to be involved this season.
The future: Ammendola is the only senior, so the kicking jobs are mostly spoken for going forward. Redshirt freshman Alex Hale arrived from Australia last year as a walk-on and will be in the mix for the job when Ammendola is gone. With scholarships currently dedicated to Hutton and McClure, the Cowboys could try to replenish with walk-ons, as they did this year. Braedy Wilson, a long snapper from Mustang, and punter Ben Freehill from Melvin, Illinois, joined the squad over the summer.
OSU will continue to look for capable returners this year and beyond, with freshmen Thomas Harper and Jacob Morris among those getting looks at those roles.