There are a few unsung heroes in football, and the special teams unit is one of them. Indiana Football is built on complementary football, and that begins and ends with special teams. In the 2025 season, Hoosiers fans witnessed an explosive return game from Jonathan Brady, who opened Indiana’s season with a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown against Old Dominion. With Brady now in the NFL, Indiana must fill a void in the return game, with candidates like Tyler Morris and Turbo Richard leading the mix.
Kicker Nico Radicic made a name for himself last season, converting 18 of 19 field goals and going a flawless 87-for-87 on extra points. Radicic’s return will be instrumental to the Hoosiers’ success in 2026.
In 2025, punter Mitch McCarthy averaged 42 yards per kick, often pinning opponents deep. Punting was never something the Hoosiers had to rely heavily on in the 2025 season, as they punted only 43 times in 16 games. With McCarthy’s absence, Quinn Warren and transfer from the University of Hawaii, Billy Gowers, will look to contribute.
With a few departures, including Mitch McCarthy, Brendan Franke, Mark Langston, Jonathan Brady, and Roman Hemby, the 2026 special teams unit will be built on returners and transfers. There is a lot of veteran ability in this room, and players who have proven themselves on game days; now they will look to do it together as Hoosiers.
Place Kicker
Starter
Nico Radicic- 4th-year/ Coppell, Texas
Nico Radicic became one of the most consistent kickers in all of college football in the 2025 season. He carried Indiana through with his successful extra points and field goals. Without Radicic’s consistency, Indiana football would never have been where they were last season. He was perfect on extra points, making 87-of-87 attempts. He had a 94.7% field goal percentage, completing 18-for-19 attempts.
Radicic’s longest made field goal came from 46 yards. Radicic is exceptional within 50 yards; however, he is still working on his distance-kicking capabilities. His impressive 2025 season earned him the Big Ten Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year award, as well as first-team All-Big Ten from the conference media and second-team from the coaches. Radicic’s role is only growing as a Hoosier, making him a crucial weapon to bail Indiana out of tight spots and secure leads this season.
Depth Peice
Paddy McAteer- 5th year/ Troy
The Hoosiers could turn to Troy transfer Paddy McAteer for longer field goal attempts. The kicker out of Mullaghbawn, Ireland, appeared in 26 games over his two seasons at Troy and set the program record for the longest field goal made at 53 yards. McAteer comes from a Gaelic football background and kicked his first American football in April of 2024. In his junior season at Troy, McAteer tallied 64 kickoffs with 34 touchbacks. He was named the Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week following his career-long 53-yard field goal against Texas State. McAteer will offer a solid kickoff specialist and when the Hoosiers need a little more distance on field goals.
Bryce Taylor- 2nd Year/ Bloomington
Bryce Taylor joined the Hoosiers as a walk-on and did not see any game action in the 2025 season. The Bloomington native was a two-star prospect out of high school and ranked No. 25 among kickers according to 247Sports. He helped bring Bloomington South High School to three straight sectional titles and earned himself first-team All-Conference Indiana as a junior and senior. His longest field goal came from 53 yards, which set a program record. He graduated from BSHS with 209 career points, converting 149-of-158 extra points, and 20-of-22 field goals. As a redshirt freshman, Taylor has spent a year developing under special teams coordinator Grant Cain, so he should be primed to make an impact when needed.
Josh Placzek-3rd Year/ Caremel, Ind,
Another walk-on comes in the form of Josh Placzek, who redshirted his initial collegiate season in 2024. He appeared in one game in 2025 and accumulated five second-half kickoffs for an average of 57.8 yards. Paczek attended Carmel High School, where he completed 6-for-6 field goal attempts as a senior, as well as 17-for-17 in extra points. He tallied three field goals from 40-plus yards, and his longest career make came at 46 yards.
Punter
Starter
Billy Gowers- 2nd Year/ Melbourne, Australia
With Mitch McCarthy gone, the Hoosiers went to the transfer portal for answers. They found 30-year-old Billy Gowers out of the University of Hawaii. Gowers hails from Melbourne, Australia, where he played eight seasons of Australian Rules Football, including five in the Australian Football League and three in the Victorian Football League. While at Hawaii, Gowers appeared in 13 games and became their primary punter. He set Hawaii’s single-season record for punting average at 46.2 yards, and he pinned seven punts inside the opposing team’s 10-yard line. He recorded 49 total punts, and his success earned him first-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus. He was also named Freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America. Gowers had an exciting freshman season, and his sophomore season with the Hoosiers is likely to be even more noteworthy.
Quinn Warren – 3rd year / Indianapolis, Ind.
Quinn Warren appeared in 13 games in the 2025 season. He could be found filling in for injured Mitch McCarthy. Warren delivered when needed, tallying six punts and averaging 48 yards per punt. Warren attended Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, where he was a finalist for the Marion County Male Athlete of the Year award, as well as a recipient of the Indiana Football Coaches Association All-State award as a senior. Warren is an overall athlete, lettering in football, soccer, and basketball. He recorded 109 career points in two seasons as a kicker. In 2025, Warren was a proven, reliable punter and will provide a solid player to look to if Gowers goes down.
Long Snapper
Starter
Drew Clausen- 5th Year/ Iowa State
The Hoosiers also turned to the transfer portal to replace Mark Langston, bringing in Iowa State transfer Drew Clausen. Clausen arrives in Bloomington from Iowa State, where he appeared in 27 career games at long snapper over five seasons. He appeared in all games in his junior and senior seasons at Iowa State. Clausen was ranked a three-star prospect as a transfer by 247Sports and ranked at No. 7 among transfer long snappers. Clausen has multiple years of experience at the collegiate level and has proven that he can perform well. He will be a reliable long snapper for the Hoosiers this season.
Depth Piece
Sam Lindsey- Third Year/ Georgia State
Lindsey became a Hoosier in 2025 as a walk-on. He played in two seasons at Georgia State, where he appeared in 11 career games. At Parkview High School, Lindsey played wide receiver and long snapper. He was given the Gwinnett County Specialist of the Year award as a junior and senior. Lindsey has had a year of Hoosier football under his belt, so he understands the system. This will likely be another year of development for Lindsey, but he should be ready if Clausen needs a filler.
Punt/Kick Returners
Expected Starters
Tyler Morris- 5th Year/ Michigan
Morris arrived out of the transfer portal from Michigan in January of 2025. Morris missed the entirety of his first season with the Hoosiers due to injury. However, he is expected to add solid depth to the wide receiver room this season. While at Michigan, Morris was an experienced punt returner as well, recording 14 returns for 126 yards, averaging 9 yards per return. Jonathan Brady took the bulk of the punt returns last season, and now Morris will look to fill that role. Morris’s experience on special teams should get him out on the field early and allow him to make an immediate impact.
Turbo Richard- 3rd Year/ Boston College
There are many possible candidates for Indiana’s kick returner, and Turbo Richard is one of them. Richard has been one of the more exciting additions from the transfer portal this season. Over two seasons at Boston College, Richard returned one kick for 30 yards. Richard is primed to be one of Indiana’s main running backs. He has proven to get downfield quickly and stay low to the ground. His skill set would make him a great option as a kick returner.
Depth Piece
Lebron Bond- 2nd Year/ Norfolk, Va.
Bond could also rotate in as a kick returner. As a two-time state qualifier in the 55-meter dash out of Maury High School, Bond is speedy and has solid short-area agility, which could make him a great candidate for the return position.
Final Assessment
This 2026 special teams group is led with consistency and experience. A few transfers have entered the picture with Drew Clausen, Paddy McAteer, and Billy Gowers. All three will make an immediate impact for the Hoosiers. Special teams offers a vital pathway for younger players to see the field early and earn meaningful reps. For players like Tyler Morris and Lebron Bond, it marks exactly that, so look for them to fight for a returner spot this season.
Consistency comes in the form of kickers, with Nico Radicic leading the way and Paddy McAteer filling in with distance kicking capabilities. Billy Gowers is an experienced punter who can pin opponents deep in their own territory.
Overall, this is a group filled with talent and will be vital to Indiana’s complementary football. Every great team relies on strong special teams, and if Indiana finds success this season, this unit will be right at the heart of it.
Other Position Previews:
Offensive Linemen
Quarterback:
Tight Ends:
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