IU football’s secondary and special teams units are among its most experienced and, in hand, most important.
Should the Hoosiers make it back to a bowl game for the first time since 2016, they’ll need their defensive backs to take another leap forward in minimizing opposing aerial attacks. As for IU’s special teams, the unit will rely on a few familiar faces for kicking, punting and returning.
Here’s how IU fills out at defensive back and special teams.
Secondary
The Hoosiers conceded 240.6 passing yards per game last season – the 81st best average in the country – but also managed to force 1.1 interceptions per game.
If IU can get more consistent coverage from its secondary, Allen could make his wish of coaching a top-25 defense a reality. Lucky for him, the Hoosiers have a handful of defensive backs set to contribute in 2019.
Wommack’s job is made easier by junior Marcelino Ball’s presence at the husky position, the play-making anchor of the defense who should expect an increased leadership role. Seniors Andre Brown Jr. and A’Shon Riggins are the lead returning defensive backs, but junior Raheem Layne and sophomore Jaylin Williams received plenty of play time behind them last year.
The only true starting position battle in the secondary is for the rights to play free safety alongside Ball. Senior Khalil Bryant made nine starts at the position in 2019, but sophomore Bryant Fitzgerald played in all 12 games, led the team in interceptions and won the team’s Corby Davis Memorial Award for most outstanding defensive back.
It’s worth noting that seven of the Hoosier defensive backs are freshman or reshirt freshman, including ESPN four-star freshman Josh Sanguinetti and Rivals four-star freshman Taiwan Mullen. Sophomore Juwan Burgess, who appeared in every game last season, should be the first man off the bench in the safety rotation.
This unit might have the deepest and most critical rotation on the defense. If the secondary can do a better job of limiting the opposing pass game, IU’s record could finally be reflective of its defense.
Special Teams
Senior kicker Logan Justus will play his final season of football for IU after a strong 2018 campaign that pegged him as a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award. This was Justus’ first time getting a chance to kick since he walked on in 2015, but he stepped in gracefully.
In a rainy home win against University of Virginia last season, Justus had both a field goal and his lone missed extra point of 2018 blocked. In all other games Justus failed to convert on just two other attempts, from 47 and 50 yards out. He did not miss from inside 40 yards all season.
The only thing keeping Justus from recording similar numbers in 2019 is a new snap-and-hold tandem. With the graduation of now Cincinnati Bengals long snapper Dan Godsil and the departure of former walk-on punter and holder Drew Conrad, special teams coordinator William Inge will need to rely on new talent.
Freshman Sean Wracher is poised to win the long-snapping job and he’s made an early impact in fall camp, but he does face competition in junior Jacob Limbach. Wracher comes into Bloomington as the nation’s No. 1 long-snapping prospect in his class.
Senior Haydon Whitehead rounds out the special teams unit as he maintains his starting punter status from the previous two seasons. Whitehead, a two-time Ray Guy Award preseason watch list member, will also take on holding responsibilities in 2019.
