Former Illinois Kicker Ethan Moczulski Returns To Program – What It Means

Rarely does a assemblage subordinate time off a school, sloppy of nan sport, only to return to that aforesaid programme a twelvemonth later. But that's precisely what erstwhile Illinois kicker Ethan Moczulski did erstwhile he announced Wednesday that is returning to Champaign to play for nan Illini successful 2026, according to aggregate reports.

There simply aren't galore high-profile (or any-profile) examples of this. Former Notre Dame backmost Tyler Buchner played his first 2 assemblage seasons successful South Bend (2021-22), transferred to Alabama for nan 2023 season, past returned to nan Fighting Irish to decorativeness retired his last 2 years of eligibility (during which he threw a azygous pass). Moczulski will effort to go nan uncommon contributor who returns to a field to present a akin aliases greater effect than he had nan first clip around.

Ethan Moczulski's background

Moczulski began his profession astatine Texas A&M, wherever he kicked a azygous other constituent earlier hitting nan transportation portal successful nan offseason. He moved connected to Champaign, wherever he served arsenic nan Illini's superior kickoff master and went 1-for-2 connected field-goal tries that were retired of scope for superior placekicker David Olano. He departed for Washington past offseason but ne'er gained traction successful Seattle, either.

Moczulski has now played for 3 different schools without ever having held down nan kicker occupation astatine immoderate point. That could alteration astatine Illinois now that Olano has transferred to Texas A&M. Moczulski was very improbable to hit retired Olano, truthful you can't blasted him for leaving Illinois successful nan first place. But pinch a clear way to nan gig, Moczulski has a legit changeable to footwear section goals and other points for nan Illini successful 2026.

Likely competing pinch Moczulski for nan domiciled will beryllium Lucas Osada, who transferred from North Carolina past year. With fantabulous powerfulness and a small spot of history pinch nan Illini, Moczulski whitethorn virtually person a limb up successful nan early stages.

Even if Moczulski doesn't hit retired Osada for nan job, there's a beautiful bully chance he will return to his domiciled arsenic Illinois' kickoff specialist. Coach Bret Bielema doesn't for illustration to overload his superior kicker, truthful nary matter what, Moczulski's limb figures to beryllium utilized 1 measurement aliases another.

Illinois transportation portal update

Moczulski is nan 15th subordinate Illinois has landed via nan portal – and truthful acold nan only kicker/punter. The Illini person still mislaid much than they person gained successful nan transportation pipeline (25 departures compared to 15 arrivals), but they are yet starting to equilibrium nan ledger – and moreover onshore immoderate players who look definite to make an instant impact.