2019 Indiana Football Positional Preview: Specialists

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The 2018 Indiana Hoosiers special teams unit had its highs (J-Shun Harris and Logan Justus) and lows (kickoff coverage and kick return). In 2019, the Hoosiers need to have a more consistent performance on special teams if they want to be playing football in December. They have the pieces to do so, but the execution has to be there. Here is what Indiana’s special teams will probably look like in 2019.

Kicking Game

Outside of the steep decline in touchbacks last season, the Hoosiers had a stellar group of kickers and punters. They will need to find a backup to Haydon Whitehead, which was Jared Smolar in the spring. Tom Allen wants to save players’ legs for the end of the season and the Hoosiers have enough options to do that, especially early in the season.

Haydon Whitehead Punter- Redshirt senior Haydon Whitehead is entering his third season as the Hoosiers punter. He has a career average of 40 yards per punt and he looks like he should improve upon that this season. He has forced 52 career fair catches and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 50 times. Whitehead has had nine punts of over 50 yards as well.

This year, Whitehead needs to continue to be the weapon he has been the last two season. He punted 85 times in 2017 and that number was reduced to 51 last year. In a perfect world, we don’t see a lot of Whitehead, but he has the ability to set the defense up for success.

Logan Justus, Field Goal Kicker- Justus filled the shoes of Griffin Oakes very well in 2018 as he earned all-conference honors. Justus made 15-of-18 field goals and 32-of-33 extra points. He should be set up for a big senior year, but will need to stay focused as redshirt freshman Charles Campbell is nipping at his heels.

Charles Campbell, Field Goal Kicker- Don’t be surprised to see the Hoosiers rotate kickers, especially early in the season. Tom Allen has been adamant in saving guys’ legs. The good news for the Hoosiers is that they have two capable field goal kickers and they can rotate should they choose to do so. Campbell was a U.S. Army All-American in high school and has looked very solid in fall camp. He is also a scholarship kicker and it is hard to justify keeping him on the bench.

Jared Smoalr, Kickoff Specialist- Tom Allen decided to go with a kickoff specialist last season and that will not change this year. Smolar started the year off very well as the kickoff specialist, but tailed off toward the end of the year. Over the first six games, Smolar had 19 touchbacks on 34 kickoffs. In the final six, he had only four touchbacks. Some of that was fatigue, some of that was due to weather conditions

Nathanael Snyder, Kickoff Specialist- Saving legs has been a priority for Tom Allen and Snyder could serve as another kickoff specialist. While you cannot travel with four kickers, it could be possible in the six home games and the non-conference games where Snyder sees his action.

Return Game

The area the Hoosiers need to improve the most is in kickoff returns and it looks as if IU has some great options. The Hoosiers will also have to find a replacement for punt returner J-Shun Harris. If they can turn around the kick return unit from awful to decent, it will be a difference in making the post-season. The goal with kick and punt returns is to try and make it easier for the offense to move down field. If they can pick up an extra first down or two, it would go a long way in making this offense much, much better.

Whop Philyor, Kick Return, Punt Return- Philyor is an explosive playmaker who seems primed to take over the punt return spot. He needs to stay healthy though. He doesn’t need to return every punt for big yards, but if he can get positive yards on most of his returns and make it easier on the offense, it’s a win.

Reese Taylor, Punt Return- Taylor has been battling a hand injury in Fall Camp, but should be able to return for the regular season. Everyone knows what Taylor can bring to the table and returning punts is just another way to get the ball in his hands. Taylor will be at defensive back in 2019 and with the depth there, it’s worth the risk of putting him back on punts.

Cole Gest Kickoff Return- Cole Gest is having an outstanding Fall Camp. His explosiveness is back after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury. His combination of speed and bulk, make him an ideal kick returner. He can run by people and get through the trash to the next level.

Marcelino Ball, Kickoff Return- Ball was used twice as a kickoff returner last season when IU needed a spark and it worked pretty well as he averaged 21 yards a return. Allen and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack may not want to put Ball at risk there all of the time, but he is an option.

Long Snapper

The Hoosiers have to replace one of the best long snappers in the country this year after Dan Godsil exhausted his eligibility. It is one of those positions that nobody notices until there is a problem.

Sean Wracher, Long Snapper- Wracher was one of the top long snappers in the country coming out of high school and was offered a scholarship. He is being brought in to start and play well. Anything less would be disappointing.