Coach Bill Callahan said Thursday he’s looking closely at his options for punt returner as the No. 20 Huskers prepare for Saturday’s game at Oklahoma State.

Terrence Nunn has been starting at the position since the opening game but was replaced by Nate Swift midway through last week’s game against Texas.

Callahan mentioned Nunn, Swift, Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones as possibilities at punt returner.

“I think we’re going to look at that closely,” Callahan said. “We’ve got good competition among all those returners.”

Nunn has returned 18 punts and averaged 8.5 yards per return. Against Texas, he failed to fair catch a ball that rolled inside the NU 1-yard line. Swift replaced him and caught two punts, returning one for 1 yard and fair catching the other. He’s returned three punts this season, one for 33 yards. Grixby has one return for 9 yards.

Callahan had his team practice outside Thursday in the cold and windy weather, primarily so the Huskers could work on the kicking game. NU played in similar conditions against Texas, when the Huskers had problems fielding kicks.

STOPPING COX: Nebraska has another special-teams challenge Saturday in facing Perrish Cox, who ranks first in the Big 12 in kickoff returns and second in punt returns. His respective averages of 31.4 yards and 13.9 yards rank sixth and 11th nationally. “He’s dynamic. He’s like dynamite coming off the return game,” Callahan said. “He has a very good feel for the walls and for his blocking. He knows how to set up his returns, and then he’s got the explosion to make the big play.” Cox has a season-long 96-yard kickoff return and a 63-yard punt return.

MEETING AGAIN: Saturday will be a reunion of sorts for the Huskers’ Jones, a junior cornerback,  and Oklahoma State wide receiver D’Juan Woods. The two are former teammates … as 10-year-olds. “I know all about that cat, man,” Jones said. “He’s a real good receiver.” Jones and Woods played together on a little league team in Oklahoma City, where Jones’ father was stationed while in the Air Force. Jones played fullback and Woods was the quarterback. Donovan Woods, D’Juan’s brother, also played linebacker. He’s now a strong safety for the Cowboys. “It’s good going up against him, finally getting a chance to see him again,” Jones said of D’Juan, who has 16 catches for 269 yards.

HURT? REALLY?: Jones is wearing a cast this week because he broke his knuckle against Texas, although Jones said he didn’t even know he was injured that seriously until the next day. “You know, as kids you play with bruised hands and jammed fingers all the time,” Jones said. “But then that next morning, my hand swelled up like a Latex glove when you blow it up.” Jones said he won’t be affected by the injury, and that he plans on playing without the cast Saturday.

TRACKING REID: Nebraska cornerbacks coach Phil Elmassian spent enough time reaping praise on OSU receivers Adarius Bowman and Woods, so he then turned to Bobby Reid, Oklahoma State’s sophomore quarterback. He’s the nation’s third-rated passer. “It will be extremely challenging, more so than any other time (this season), because of the quarterback’s ability to continue plays,” Elmassian said. “Somewhere between (Josh) Freeman and the Iowa State kid (Bret Meyer). This kid’s a really good player. I like him. There’s a lot of offense.”