Earlier this week, Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman provided some validation to anyone who feels the Sooners’ special teams has fallen off in recent years.

“Last year, we weren't really allowed to return kicks unless we needed it,” Bowman said during a media session this week, courtesy SI Sooners. “So, I feel like if I can show that I can do that, then it’ll be a show.”

Indeed, OU can go to another level if it allows a dynamic playmaker like Bowman or — I don’t know — Marvin Mims more freedom to return kicks. Because as much as special-teams miscues have haunted the Sooners as the kicking team, they by no means lack the athletic talent to deliver momentum-swinging touchdowns themselves.

Over the last four years, OU has placed less of an emphasis on utilizing returns, however, ranking near the bottom of the Big 12 in both kickoff and punt returns.

A closer look at the four-year trend:

Of course, OU saw plenty of success during that stretch. They captured three Big 12 championships, two College Football Playoff berths and never lost more than twice in the same season.

It’s just a strange trend for a team that has the talent pool OU’s enjoyed year after year.

The Sooners were one of three teams in the conference to not record a kickoff return for a touchdown over the last four seasons. The rest of the league each recorded multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same span.

Part of the issue toward the end of the Lincoln Riley era was the departure of Shane Beamer, who left OU after the 2020 season to become the next head coach at South Carolina. Beamer played a major role in coaching OU’s special teams and his expertise was not replaced for the 2021 season.

The Sooners will have a special team coordinator this season. OU coach Brent Venables hired Jay Nunez to oversee the group. Nunez, who’s from Alva, Oklahoma, will perform the job in an off-the-field role after serving as Eastern Michigan's special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.

Nunez shouldn’t struggle to find players that can be threats in the return game.

As mentioned, Bowman ought to be a good place to start.