Tom Allen Says Indiana Kickers 'Not to our Standard,' Nico Radicic Returning From Injury

Tom Allen was disappointed by Indiana kickers Chris Freeman and Alejandro Quintero during Saturday's scrimmage, and he expects freshman Nico Radicic to compete for the starting job after missing recent practices due to injury.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Included on the long list of position battles throughout the Indiana football roster are the kickers.

True freshman Nico Radicic did not participate in Saturday's scrimmage – Tom Allen said he was "nursing something" – which left Chris Freeman and Alejandro Quintero as the remaining kickers. Both attempted field goals and extra points, but Allen walked away unsatisfied.

"I did not feel like we got what we wanted out of [the kickers] on Saturday," Allen said at Wednesday's press conference. "That's an area that's definitely an area of emphasis for us right now ... Not to our standard this past weekend. Those guys know that."

Charles Campbell was a reliable field goal and extra-point kicker for the Hoosiers in each of the last three seasons, but he transfered to Tennessee following the 2022 campaign. Campbell's five field goals of 50-plus yards rank second in program history, and he went 39-for-51 on field goals while never missing an extra point.

So far, it's been a struggle to replace his steady leg. 

Indiana brought in Radicic this offseason, and he's long felt like the logical replacement for Campbell. Out of Coppell, Texas, Radicic was tabbed a five-star prospect and the No. 4 kicker in the nation among 2023 recruits, per Kohl's Professional Camps. He was one of two kickers chosen to play in the 2023 All-American Bowl, along with Illinois' David Olano.

"He once again showed that he is one of the more pure ball strikers in his class," Kohl's Professional Camps wrote about Radicic. "His timing and athleticism allow him to maximize his energy into the football and create great hang-time and distance in all three disciplines. Radicic was one of the top performers during the 2021 Kohl's Winter Ranking camps. He hit multiple field goals that are at the college level and also demonstrated that he has the leg strength on punts to be a great combo specialist. Radicic has the talent to play in college at the Power Five level!"

But to due to his inconsistent availability in practice, Radicic hasn't yet separated himself in the kicking competition. Indiana has given opportunities to Freeman and Quintero, but neither has taken advantage. They both lack experience, too.

Freeman has been in the program since the 2020 season, but he's primarily been utilized as a kickoff specialist. After a redshirt year in 2020, Freeman performed four kickoffs in 2021 and made both extra-point attempts against Idaho. He handled kickoff duties in all 12 games in 2022, but he hasn't attempted a field goal in his collegiate career.

Quintero, listed as a punter on the roster, joined the Hoosiers before the 2022 season after beginning his career at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. He appeared in one game for the Hoosiers, sending a kickoff through the end zone for a touchback against Idaho.

Allen expects the kicking competition to ramp up this week as Radicic returns to action.

"[Radicic has] been slowly brought back this week, so he should be fully kicking tomorrow," Allen said Wednesday. "So it will be a chance to get a better evaluation, and I expect him to step up and compete ... I'm excited to get Nico back in that competition and see how he responds."

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