Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - Mario Landino, Tyler Morris & Nico Radicic
8/26/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – As the 2026 season approaches, defensive lineman Mario Landino, wide receiver Tyler Morris and kicker Nico Radicic talked with the media on Wednesday (August 26) in the Don Croftcheck Football Team Room.
Below is a partial transcript, while video of the full media sessions can be found in the links above this story or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Mario Landino | DL | Third Year
On his excitement about the defensive line and how good it could be…
ML: I'm excited. We have lot of guys that came back from last year and you know the possibility I know with (Stephen) Daley and Kellan (Wyatt), we're hoping we can get them back as well.
But it's just a good mesh of me that came together and we're still putting things together, but it's still a nice way to see what the future can be if we put in the right work and right effort towards the season.
On whom he'd pick on the defensive line that's improved throughout the offseason…
ML: I'd say Blake Smythe. He's younger and when I was younger, I had a guy like James (Carpenter) that showed me the pathway and I'm trying to be that guy towards Blake, and I think he's made great strides as a freshman and better than I was as a freshman.
On what things Blake is showing on his improvement…
ML: He's flashed in ways where he showed twitch intelligence. But there's also little freshman things and mistakes that always come up and things that we need to work on. He's not a complete player yet, I'm not a complete player yet, but that's what we strive to be is complete players. He's done a good job.
Tyler Morris | WR | Fifth Year
On his recovery after his injury…
TM: It was tough, kind of after just getting here and being hurt so fast. I had done it before in high school, so I knew, I've done it before, I can do it again. I just in my mind was just preparing for this year, and just with everything I did as far as recovery and working out and just trying to learn and all that. I just wanted to be as prepared for this year as I could.
I would say it took about nine months till I was feeling back, just able to run routes and all of that.
On what he got out of a year off…
TM: I mean I think it helped me learn the offense for sure. I think it can be a little difficult at times just coming from in first year and not understanding just the offense and just learning something new.
Just being able to sit back and talk to guys like Elijah (Sarratt), EJ (Williams Jr.), and (Omar) Coop (Cooper Jr.) and just seeing how they see things and just being able to sit back and kind see how the game week goes but not necessarily have the pressure of having to make sure I'm going out and getting it right just made things easier for me.
I feel like this year just being able to go into it and kind of understanding the flow of everything and it not being exactly my first time.
On his mentality returning punts…
TM: A punt return is one of those things where your kind of just back there by yourself and you kind of understand that you need to make the play and you need to catch the ball first. It's fun just understanding that you know the ball's coming to you, and you get an opportunity to make a play.
Nico Radicic | K | Fourth Year
On question one...
NR: I wouldn't say so, I think what I did in the spring kind of carried into the fall and it's gotten better.
On Coach Grant Cain's expertise...
NR: I think Coach (Grant) Cain and Coach (Ryan) Mac (McInerney) are elite at their job. The amount of time that they spend upstairs scheming about punt or kickoff. It's crazy to me how many kickoff formations we have and punt, he has an answer for every single scenario, seeing that in meetings you start to realize how elite he is at his job.
On if his mentality changes being listed on the nation's preseason watch lists…
NR: It doesn't change at all. It's a preseason watch list; it's based on what I did last year. Last year doesn't matter to me, so I'm looking forward to this season.
On the evolution of kickers and their improvement across the country...
NR: It's a great question. I see the same thing. Young guys are hitting balls from 65 (yards) in high school. I don't know. I think the training is getting better. There's a lot of people getting involved in kicking and special teams. It's just about making kicks and being consistent.
Below is a partial transcript, while video of the full media sessions can be found in the links above this story or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Mario Landino | DL | Third Year
On his excitement about the defensive line and how good it could be…
ML: I'm excited. We have lot of guys that came back from last year and you know the possibility I know with (Stephen) Daley and Kellan (Wyatt), we're hoping we can get them back as well.
But it's just a good mesh of me that came together and we're still putting things together, but it's still a nice way to see what the future can be if we put in the right work and right effort towards the season.
On whom he'd pick on the defensive line that's improved throughout the offseason…
ML: I'd say Blake Smythe. He's younger and when I was younger, I had a guy like James (Carpenter) that showed me the pathway and I'm trying to be that guy towards Blake, and I think he's made great strides as a freshman and better than I was as a freshman.
On what things Blake is showing on his improvement…
ML: He's flashed in ways where he showed twitch intelligence. But there's also little freshman things and mistakes that always come up and things that we need to work on. He's not a complete player yet, I'm not a complete player yet, but that's what we strive to be is complete players. He's done a good job.
Tyler Morris | WR | Fifth Year
On his recovery after his injury…
TM: It was tough, kind of after just getting here and being hurt so fast. I had done it before in high school, so I knew, I've done it before, I can do it again. I just in my mind was just preparing for this year, and just with everything I did as far as recovery and working out and just trying to learn and all that. I just wanted to be as prepared for this year as I could.
I would say it took about nine months till I was feeling back, just able to run routes and all of that.
On what he got out of a year off…
TM: I mean I think it helped me learn the offense for sure. I think it can be a little difficult at times just coming from in first year and not understanding just the offense and just learning something new.
Just being able to sit back and talk to guys like Elijah (Sarratt), EJ (Williams Jr.), and (Omar) Coop (Cooper Jr.) and just seeing how they see things and just being able to sit back and kind see how the game week goes but not necessarily have the pressure of having to make sure I'm going out and getting it right just made things easier for me.
I feel like this year just being able to go into it and kind of understanding the flow of everything and it not being exactly my first time.
On his mentality returning punts…
TM: A punt return is one of those things where your kind of just back there by yourself and you kind of understand that you need to make the play and you need to catch the ball first. It's fun just understanding that you know the ball's coming to you, and you get an opportunity to make a play.
Nico Radicic | K | Fourth Year
On question one...
NR: I wouldn't say so, I think what I did in the spring kind of carried into the fall and it's gotten better.
On Coach Grant Cain's expertise...
NR: I think Coach (Grant) Cain and Coach (Ryan) Mac (McInerney) are elite at their job. The amount of time that they spend upstairs scheming about punt or kickoff. It's crazy to me how many kickoff formations we have and punt, he has an answer for every single scenario, seeing that in meetings you start to realize how elite he is at his job.
On if his mentality changes being listed on the nation's preseason watch lists…
NR: It doesn't change at all. It's a preseason watch list; it's based on what I did last year. Last year doesn't matter to me, so I'm looking forward to this season.
On the evolution of kickers and their improvement across the country...
NR: It's a great question. I see the same thing. Young guys are hitting balls from 65 (yards) in high school. I don't know. I think the training is getting better. There's a lot of people getting involved in kicking and special teams. It's just about making kicks and being consistent.
#NeverDaunted
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Monday, August 24