Nebraska punter Archie Wilson breaks down in tears reflecting on leaving Australia, family for football career

Nebraska’s freshman punter Archie Wilson is already making waves as the breakout star of fall camp — not just for his rare ability to kick different styles with both feet, but for his personality. The Australia native, who turns 19 on Wednesday, is the latest punter from down under to make the massive move across the world to chase a dream in American football — a sport he’s never actually played an organized game of.

Adjusting to life thousands of miles from home hasn’t been easy for Wilson. The emotional weight of his first time away from family showed Tuesday when he met with reporters in Lincoln.

“That part’s hard. I mean — I’m sorry,” Wilson said before breaking down in tears, hiding his face in his arm on the lectern. “I love them a lot. I got two little brothers, and my mom and dad. That’s the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them.”

The Huskers added Wilson to the roster in June, giving new special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler a familiar rugby-style punter he used while at Tennessee the past four years. Ekeler had long admired Wilson’s unique skill set — especially his ability to punt effectively with both feet, a rare talent that adds a versatile weapon to Nebraska’s special teams. 

After seeing Wilson’s live kicks over FaceTime, Ekeler was confident that the young Aussie was ready to take on college football, despite never having played an organized game before.

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/nebraska-punter-archie-wilson-breaks-down-in-tears-reflecting-on-leaving-australia-family-for-football-career/

Author : Cody Nagel

Publish date : 2025-08-12 22:36:00

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