IU Kicker Charles Campbell Focusing on Timing with Holder Chase Wyatt to Reach New Heights

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana kicker Charles Campbell has had big moments in his young IU career. He booted a key field goal in the 2019 Bucket Game after Logan Justus struggled all day then booted three 50-yard plus field goals in 2020. He earned second team All-Big Ten and probably missed out on Kicker of the Year because IU scored too many touchdowns. Heading into the spring and the 2021 season, there is a real possibility Campbell will be in play not only for Big Ten Kicker of the Year, but also the Lou Groza Award that goes to the best kicker in the nation. While Campbell is focusing improving his one kicks the most important thing this spring to help get him closer to those accolades, is getting used to new holder Chase Wyatt.

Wyatt has been IU’s backup punter and will be replacing Haydon Whitehead as the holder on place kicks. For anyone who has either held or kick field goals in a game, they know this is where the magic happens. I smooth snap-to-kick transition will go unnoticed, but it’s the key to success. Wyatt is a Noblesville native and named the high school’s special teams player of the year twice. He is also an Academica All-Big Ten selection in 2020.

“I have been working on my field-goal height and accuracy from distance.” Campbell said. “But I feel the most important piece that I have been working on in spring ball is breaking in our new holder Chase Wyatt. I have been getting a lot of reps with him trying to get that togetherness down.”

Of course, long snapper Sean Wracher is included in the whole snap-to-kick transition, but Wracher has proved himself to be not only one of the best snappers in the conference, but in the nation. Like anything in sports or machinery with moving parts it is all about timing.

“The biggest transition would probably be timing. Chase and I are roommates, so we are very close.” Campbell explained. “We normally work a lot together over the summer, so it is just getting in those live reps and getting under pressure with Chase to see if he does well, which he has done really well. That is probably about it. Everything is going very smoothly.”

Campbell finished 2020 hitting 10-of-11 field goals and 25 extra points. He is set up to have a special 2021 season.