Mark Stoops on cornerbacks, special teams

From Larry Vaught --

Question: Will improvement at cornerback hopefully come from the maturity of your older, experience players or from someone joining the team this year?

Stoops: “I do think it is possible for a true freshman to play at this spot. It is so hard and such a tough position to play but it is the easiest position to teach. If you can cover somebody, we will get the rest taught to you. Obviously there are a lot of nuances and you get better over time, but if they can cover they can help us. We have some really good range in these new guys. You need some big guys to defend. I am very pleased. We have great range in class with us right now. They look very impressive and I think are what we need.”

Question: Not much has been said during the offseason about special teams, but with punter Landon Foster and kicker Austin MacGinnis back does that give you a leg up on most SEC teams, especially if your kick coverage improves?

Stoops: “I agree and that is one reason there was some change in the offseason in special teams and way we structure it. I feel very good about our specialists. Pleasantly surprised last year with Austin the way he kicked and the strength of his leg. This year will even be better. Some of that coverage unit was on kicks as well and that’s the thing with Austin getting a year older, getting stronger, getting some height on some of those kicks. Not very good when kick line drives.

“I anticipate, like everywhere else, getting better. The more bodies you have, the deeper the talent you can put on coverage units and better you can be.”