On special teams, how do Hoosiers replace Wynn, Harris?

Our position preview series wraps up today, with a look at the Hoosiers' special teams options.

Kevin Wilson's kicking game is almost always an open competition, but he has incumbents in Erich Toth and Griffin Oakes who will have the inside lane to keeping their jobs.

The question lingers over the kickoff and punt return teams, where last season's primary returners -- Shane Wynn (graduation) and J-Shun Harris (injury) -- are both unavailable for the season. How does Indiana go about replacing them? Is there a replacement on roster suitable enough to give opposing special teams coordinators headaches?

Let's go position by position.

PLACE KICKER

Aaron Del Grosso actually began last season with the starting job at this position, going 1-of-4 on field goal attempts over IU's first three games before an injury sidelined him and moved Oakes to the No. 1 spot.

Oakes, a Greenwood alumnus, hit 13-of-18 field goal tries over the course of the rest of the season, as well as all 23 of his point-after attempts. His 58-yard field goal against Maryland set a program record, and helped earn him conference special teams player of the week honors last September. He hit three field goals in three different games (Maryland, at Rutgers, Purdue).

Leg strength being his most obvious plus, Oakes needs to improve his accuracy, which is perhaps why the preseason two-deep at kicker lists Oakes "or" Del Grosso as the No. 1 kicker.

Experience and that distance give Oakes the early nod here. But Wilson isn't afraid to push his kickers.

PUNTER

Unlike place kicker, IU's punting job seems largely settled, provided redshirt senior Erich Toth stays healthy.

The Brebeuf alum has been Indiana's starting punter for more than full seasons now, and he's fifth all-time in program history, with 177 punts, heading into this season.

He has averaged more than 40 yards per punt in each of the last two seasons, and he was named IU special teams player of the week four teams in 2014. Nick Campos is listed as his backup, but Toth appears to have a firm grip on his place.

RETURNER

Here, we greet uncertainty.

Wynn was as talented of a kickoff/punt returner as Indiana has had in recent memory, and Harris was being groomed to replace him. Now one is gone and the other is out for the season.

Asked specifically about his return game Thursday, Kevin Wilson kept his options open. He said smaller, "dynamic" player can sometimes struggle to run through the "trash" -- arm tackles and traffic created during returns. He also stated a preference not to rely on a freshman for return duties, unless that freshman proved himself dependable.

"I don’t know how much you like freshman catching kicks," he said. "Years ago, we had to do that. That’s a critical play. Any time there’s an exchange of kick, it’s one of the bigger plays of the game. ... Special teams turnovers are really hard to turn around the course of a game."

Wilson also floated the possibility of a bigger, more physical kick returner, specifically mentioning safety Chase Dutra and yet-to-be-cleared JUCO wide receiver transfer Camion Patrick.

In total, he mentioned five different players:

Chase Dutra

Mitchell Paige

Camion Patrick

Isaac James

Devonte Williams

Williams and James are freshmen. Paige is a redshirt junior, and the player Wilson called the "most savvy and consistent catcher" on his roster. Paige also has limited experience as a returner in college already, something none of those other four can claim.

And Wilson said that, during a visit to an NFL camp recently, he was speaking with a coach when someone pointed out that sure-handed catching is as important in football right now as returning, because Wilson believes the majority of kickoffs and punts do not get returned.

Right now, there's no handicapping this field. That list is probably just partial, and the only clear takeaway from Wilson's answer Thursday is that the position battle is open to all comers.

OTHER POSITION PREVIEWS

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Defensive line

Linebacker

Cornerback

Safety

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.