OU football head coach Bob Stoops said on Monday that a key area of concern for the Sooners entering their first game is the special teams.

The question centers around how special the special teams unit will be.

Last season, kicker Tim Duncan hit 20 of 28 field goals including 5-of-7 from 40-49 yards.

Punter Jeff Ferguson was just as solid with an average of 44 yards per kick with 21 inside the 20-yard line. Out of 71 punts last season, just one was blocked.

But both have exited, and now new faces will take over.

Incoming freshman Josh Roberts was expected to be the starting kicker, but after not reporting for fall practice the Sooners have found another freshman to take his place.

True freshman Trey DiCarlo will be called upon to start as kicker against Tulsa on Friday.

However, Stoops said it shouldn't be a surprise if DiCarlo isn't the only kicker to see action.

Junior transfer Steven Sarrubi may also be called upon to take care of some of the kicking duties.

A familiar name will take over punting duties as sophomore transfer Blake Ferguson will pick up from where his brother, Jeff Ferguson, left off last year.

As a true freshman at North Carolina, Blake Ferguson punted 40 times for an average of 36.9 yards per punt with 11 of his punts inside the 20-yard line.

He also had a 61 yard boot against Tulsa in North Carolina's 2000 opener.

Although Ferguson hasn't competed in a year, he said he is confident taking over punting duties while heading into the first contest of the year.

"It's been a long time." Blake Ferguson said. "But I'm ready."

He said despite the fact that he's following in his brother's footsteps, he doesn't really talk to his brother about punting at OU.

"We really don't talk about it," Blake Ferguson said. "I know he's supporting me."

Stoops said despite the new faces that will make up the kicking game, he believes that the Sooners' kicking game will still be strong.

"I feel it will be solid," Stoops said. "Our punters and kickers are more rested than a week ago."

Another key to the Sooners special team's unit will be sophomore cornerback Antonio Perkins.

Stoops announced that Perkins will be called upon to return punts for the Sooners, and Stoops said he believes that the sophomore can be dangerous.

"I believe in Antonio Perkins," Stoops said. "He's one of the most explosive players on the team."

"He has a suddenness to him."
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