Logan Justus Feels No Pressure, Just Does His Job

Written by Amanda Pavelka (@amandapavelka3)

Kickers are some of the most underappreciated players amongst football teams. It is the expectation that college-level kickers kick the football in between the field goal posts, and more often than not, fans do not seem to pay attention until the team misses out on points for their team. The game-winning points often lie in the power and accuracy of the kicker’s leg— a pressure Indiana’s Logan Justus volunteered himself for when he joined the Indiana football squad as a walk-on in 2015.

Justus redshirted in 2015, and sat out for the 2016 and 2017 seasons while Griffin Oakes completed his four-year role as Indiana’s chosen kicker. 

“Really of all the positions, that's the one guy that better be your quality,” Tom Allen told the media Monday, “You can be a great kicker. If you struggle to make the ones when it really matters, you're not going to be a very successful kicker. Other positions you can make mistakes and it gets hidden a little bit. Not that guy.”

It was in 2018 that Justus was called to kick, and he has proven himself Mister Dependable since then. 

“I knew the path would be a lot of work,” Justus said, “I know a lot of kickers don’t really get scholarships coming out of high school, so I knew I just had to put the work in.”

In his debut season as a junior, Justus was one of 20 on the semifinalists for the Lou Groza walk-on award with his 15-of-18 field goals, a long of 44, and 32-of-33 for extra pointers. 

“He's improved so much since I've been here,” Allen said, “when I first got here, the ball hooked quite a bit. (He) just really worked hard to get more of a vertical launch as well as extension to stay through, be more accurate. I think these last couple years, he's obviously kicked his very, very best. It was just through a lot of hard work, training.”

Going into his senior year, he had new competition to beat out—Charles Campbell, who was set to be his replacement. He succeeded himself and Allen’s expectations in fall camp. 

“He's shown the last two years here the ability to really lock in and focus and do a great job of hitting those clutch field goals. I just think there's a consistency in how he prepares. He trains really hard,” Allen said. 

Allen’s decision to choose Justus as first man up to kick was only validated with his perfect performance in Indiana’s 2019 season opener against Ball State. Justus set a program-tying record with his 4-4 field goals kicked a single game. It was a 48-yard field goal, a 49-yarder, and then a 50-yarder that gave him a career-high day three times over. Justus was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in week one and has once again been named a Lou Groza award semifinalist. 

“I think certain guys have that ability to be able to be really, really good when the pressure is on. Causes some guys to hesitate a little bit, second guess themselves.”

Pressure does not seem to be a word in Justus’ vocabulary as he has almost flawlessly kicked Indiana through nine games this season. So far the senior is one of only five kickers in FBS that have yet to miss a field goal— he is 12-for-12. As for extra points, he is 34-for-35, only having missed one in a tough road environment at Nebraska. 

“I don’t feel any pressure. The team trusts me, and I trust them,” Justus said.

His responses every time he is asked are plain and simple, straight to the point. He puts in the work all week, and it translates to the field on Saturdays. 

“Sometimes guys are clutch and some guys are not. He's been able to prove it,” Allen said, “We're going to need him these last few games. I guarantee you he's going to have to come up and win a game for us.”

With Penn State, Michigan, and the Old Oaken Bucket game lurking, one thing is certain for Indiana—Justus’ left leg is capable of kicking the Hoosiers through.