Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers had an interesting year on special teams. When they were on their game, this unit was one of the best in the conference. However, when it did not go their way, the wheels fell off.

The Hoosiers led the Big Ten in blocked kicks and punts with five. Charles Campbell was very good to start the year, D.J. Matthews provided a major spark on punt returns and James Evans showed he is capable of big punts.

On the flip side, the Hoosiers rarely returned kickoffs and when they did, it didn’t go well. Campbell was great early on going seven-for-seven before finishing the season hitting just 6-of-11 attempts. For every 50+-yard punt Evans had there were one or two that barely cleared 30 yards, he did finish the year averaging 41.9 yards per punt. After Matthews was lost for the season against Western Kentucky, the punt return game was non-existent.

2022 should be another year where the special teams unit has potential to be really good as Campbell, Matthews and Evans all return to the mix. There will be some holes to fill in this phase of the game, but the speed being brought in should help immensely.

Departures

The biggest departures from this unit as of publishing (12/23) are kickoff specialist Jared Smolar, punt returner Reese Taylor and kick returner Jacolby Hewitt.

Smolar was a reliable kickoff man who hit 63.6-percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks last season. He had been the regular kickoff man for the past three seasons and will be missed.

Taylor was a 2020 All-Big Ten selection at punt returner, but lost his starting role to D.J. Matthews. They ended up splitting time before Matthews got hurt. Unfortunately for Taylor he was lost to injury as well. Taylor had four returns for 32 yards last season. Ty Fryfogle also fielded punts and will be moving on, but he was a non-factor in the return game and basically just fair caught every punt.

Hewitt entered the transfer portal and landed at FIU this offseason, but IU will need to replace his production on kick return. He had a 76-yard kick return against Idaho, but finished the year with only 226 return yards. He had some speed and elusiveness, but rarely got past the first wave if given the chance to return kicks.

Returnees

The Hoosiers return both place kicker Charles Campbell and punter James Evans in addition to long snapper Sean Wracher. Running back David Holloman and all-purpose back David Ellis also returned kicks in 2021 and could see some action in 2022 at the positions, but the Hoosiers are bringing in other players who fit in well in that phase of the game.

Wide receiver and punt returner D.J. Matthews is coming back off an ACL tear. He was electric on punt returns and that shouldn’t change in 2022, unless Allen and his staff want to use him sparingly in the return game to save his knees.

Newcomers

Campbell and James are locked into the starting roles at place kicker and punter. The Hoosiers used Chris Freeman on a couple kickoffs the last couple seasons, so he could take that job unless Allen uses Campbell or another walk-on for that position.

The biggest battle on special teams will be in the return game.

Holloman and Ellis have shown flashes of what they can do on kickoffs, but the Hoosiers could use an incoming freshman like Jaylin Lucas or Kamryn Perry who have high-end speed there.

The punt return job goes to Matthews with Lucas and Perry or James Monds getting a shot to back him up.

Final Group Projections for 2022

One Scholarship Kicker

Charles Campbell - RS Senior

One Scholarship Punter

James Evans - Sophomore

One Scholarship Snapper

Sean Wracher - Senior

Five Scholarship “Returners”

D.J. Matthews - Super Senior
David Ellis - Senior
David Holloman - RS Freshman
Jaylin Lucas - Incoming Freshman
Kamryn Perry - Incoming Freshman
James Monds - Incoming Freshman

Walk-ons with Experience

Chase Wyatt - RS Junior
Chris Freeman - RS Sophomore

The Huddle

State of the Room - IUFB Special Teams

Hoosier Huddle