Indiana University Athletics
Exciting Times – Special Teams Set To Deliver ‘Winning Edge’
8/12/2021 9:55:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Do special teams excite you?
They do Kasey Teegardin, and not just because he's Indiana's special teams coordinator.
Teegardin knows the talent he has. He understands the impact his group can have on games and seasons. He has a head coach -- Tom Allen -- who sees special teams as a weapon to maximize in ways even college football superpowers often don't.
"I can't tell you as a special teams coordinator how having a head coach that understands the importance of this third of the game and how much he puts into it," Teegardin says. "It makes my job 10 times easier.
"He will give me whatever I need practice-wise, time-wise, and personnel-wise to challenge our guys. To have him echo that to the team is such a big deal as a coordinator, especially at this level. He understands how you win and lose games, especially in the Big Ten when it comes down to those final moments."
IU has a can't-miss kicker, an ultra-consistent long snapper (yes, that matters), a potential All-Big Ten punter once he figures out the American game (he grew up in New Zealand as a rugby and squash player) and big-play returners.
Sure, quarterback Michael Penix Jr., receiver Ty Fryfogle, cornerback Taiwan Mullen, and linebacker Micah McFadden get most of the acclaim, as they should, but these special teams standouts might be the difference between a good and a great season.
So, yes, Teegardin is pumped.
"On special teams, we are going to provide the winning edge to this team," he says. "I challenge our guys every single meeting to provide the winning edge."
Specifically, edge comes from Charles Campbell, who in his first season as the No. 1 kicker made 10-of-11 field goals and all 25 of his extra points. He's the second Hoosier to ever make three 50-yard field goals in a season.
The first – former All-American Pete Stoyanovich in 1988, back when Madonna ruled the music charts.
"When you talk about Charles Campbell, he is the best in the country at what he does," Teegardin says. "Three field goals over 50 yards, set a bowl record in the Outback Bowl (with a 53-yarder). He played phenomenally all year long.
"He is dependable and has taken his game to another level this spring and this summer, which I am excited about. We will be using him on kickoff, too."
Then there's Sean Wracher, once rated the nation's No. 1 rated high school long snapper whose ability to get the ball to kickers and punters no matter the pressure, all while providing key blocks, can't be overstated.
"He is the best long snapper in the country," Teegardin says. "They don't get the recognition that some of these other guys get. There is no long-snapper award, but if there was, Sean would be a finalist for it hands down, no doubt about it."
Finally, there's James Evans, a 6-1, 222-pound athlete with that rugby and squash background who comes to IU from New Zealand to continue the Hoosiers' ability to go half way around the world to find punters. Four-year starter Haydon Whitehead was from Australia.
Evans had never played football before last spring, but what he lacks in experience he makes up in potential. But in Allen's world, everything is earned, which means there's competition.
In this case, Chase Wyatt, last year's back-up punter, also will get a punting shot.
"We brought in James Evans," Teegardin says, "and he has a tremendous leg. He averaged over 45 yards a punt in the spring.
"It is a new game to him, and he did an awesome job this summer with his workouts. He really challenged himself to take the next step and understand the game, and I think he has really expanded his football IQ in terms of the punt game and what we are doing there.
"James is a great student. He had a 4.0 GPA last semester. He is mature and very intelligent. I am really excited about James. His leg is stronger than Haydon's, but Haydon had that poise and that comfortability about him. Those are the things we have to develop in James.
"Chase Wyatt is a guy that is going to compete with (Evans) and push him every step of the way. He is dependable and smart. He is also our starting holder right now, so he is going to be on the bus … I am looking forward to seeing those guys battle it out and what the future holds."
Throw in some game-busting returners (D.J. Matthews Jr., Reese Taylor, and David Ellis) and you have special team talent to rival any team in the Big Ten, if not the country.
So what kind of winning edge can special teams provide?
Teegardin points to field position, coverage, thriving under pressure, and making game-changing plays.
"Look at NFL head coaches who are constantly talking about winning the field position battle," Teegardin says. "You do that with great special teams play -- coverage and in the return game.
"The next thing we are going to do is be the best when it counts the most. We get one play on special teams. One punt, one field goal. Sometimes that field goal is to win the game, and you have to be at your best when it counts the most. I think Charles has done that for us thus far.
"The last thing we talk about is to make game-changing plays. We used to say create. Opportunities are already created in the kicking game every play when we take the field. That's how I view it.
"Special teams has to be a weapon and we have to do a better job in the return game. That starts with me, but also the schematics of it and getting the right personnel on the field to give us those opportunities. We have to continue to do those things and staple them into the hearts and minds of our players."
Mindset is huge in all of this. Teegardin is talking about the punters, but it's really about everyone on special teams.
"We get them prepared the best we can. I asked those guys, do you like pressure? It is a pressure situation. They can be backed up with their heels against the goal line and they have to block all that out, catch the football, and take a step to get the ball off in a timely manner.
'We are also asking them to place it in a certain position and let our guys go cover it and change the field. That is the first thing I ask those guys. They like pressure. I have had those conversations with them.
"In practice we call it Heat It Up Wednesday. Even if our opponent hasn't shown that, we are going to bring a lot of pressure after them. We are going to put them in pressure situations and make sure they're ready.
"When we go to Iowa (for the Sept. 4 season opener), those fans are right on top of you, so we have to be able to perform in those high-pressure situations."
Teegardin envisions the Hoosiers thriving in such moments.
Did we mention special teams excites him?
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