2024 Position Preview: Special Teams is James Evans and the Unknown

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

All off-season head coach Curt Cignetti has talked about IU losing five one-score games in 2023 and how just being a little bit better in every area of the game can give the Hoosiers the lift they need to get back to the postseason. Special teams is a major part of what went wrong for IU last year and enters the 2024 season with some very big questions outside of punter James Evans.

Punter

James Evans, Senior

Evans is entering his final year of college football and his journey went from never having put on football pads to being one of the best punters in the Big Ten. He is already the Hoosiers’ all-time leader in punting average and should leave IU with that title.

Evans has a big leg and was nursing an injury last season. He is back to being 100-percent this year and to be a weapon for IU, just not as often as in the past. Evans can flip the field with his big leg or he can pin opponents inside the 20-yard line. One thing that needs to be cleaned up is punt protection, which has been an issue in some close games with IU in the past.

Alejandro Quintero, RS Junior

Backing up Evans will be Alejandro Quintero who can be used on kickoffs and field goals as well. The super utility kicker is great to have around in case of injuries. He has only had three kickoffs in his two years at IU.

Kickoff Specialist

Derek McCormick, RS Senior

Curt Cignetti named McCormick IU’s kickoff specialist while still battling for the field goal kicking duties. He has a big leg and experience handling kickoffs at ULM. McCormick handled field goal duties at ULM as well where he connected on 10-of-12 field goal attempts including two over 50 yards

Field Goal Duties

Cignetti updated the on going battle for field goal kicking after the 13th fall practice.

“That's been a pretty intense competition. I don't know who will come out on top. It could be a situation where we have a field goal kicker and the guy kicks an extra long field goal. For us, we've spent a lot of time on PAT field goal, more so than my past camps. Because when you start talking about winning those close games. it, it's really the guy. They're all capable, like they all have good kicking percentages, kick the ball through the uprights. Now, it's the pressure of the moment, you know, and being able to focus in on their technique, and what they got to do to split that up right, not an inch to the right an inch to the left.” Cignetti explained.

Nico Radicic, RS Freshman

Radicic is the other kicker with kicking extra points in an actual game, but is still largely inexperienced. He was a highly touted recruit out of high school and having him handle shorter field goals could be beneficial for the Hoosiers in 2024 and beyond.

Return Game

Cignetti tried to deemphasize the return game as there just aren't that many opportunities for kickoff returns these days. IU does have multiple options to put back there starting with wide receiver Myles Price who was an excellent punt returner at Texas Tech. Omar Cooper has also returned kickoffs. However, it looks like running back Solomon Vanhorse will get the nod as the main kick returner where he excelled at before getting hurt. Price will likely be the punt returner and there is enough depth that IU won’t have to stick a walk-on back there.

Long Snapper

The Hoosiers have two long snappers with experience in Mark Langston (Georgia Southern) and Jaxon Miller (Army). Langston seems like the starter, but Jackson is capable as well.