SAM MCKEWON – Omaha World-Herald – Jul 28, 2025 – Lincoln Journal Star

At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, freshman Archie Wilson looks more like a young, trim, muscular H-back than a punter.

Or, in Wilson’s case, an Australian Rules footballer who can kick with both feet and even become a threat on a fake.

“He can roll right, he can roll left, he can really run, he’s fast, he can throw,” NU coach Matt Rhule said. “He can punt with both feet. Really fun guy. I’m really glad that he’s here … if you don’t know the aiming point, and you know there’s always a chance that he could throw the ball or run with it, that’ll really put defenses at a disadvantage.”

Wilson is the odds-on favorite to be NU’s punter in 2025, as special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler handpicked him from ProKick Australia, which has produced top college and NFL punters.

Ekeler and Rhule wanted a rugby punter so opposing defenses and punt return units have less certainty about what might happen on a given punt, delaying both a punt block — which dogged the Huskers in wins over Rutgers and Boston College — and a quality return.

Wilson worked on Monday with Brett Maher, a former Husker kicker and punter who went on to have a long career in the NFL. Wilson attended some short-rollout rugby punts, plus some pooch kicks, in the brief media availability period.

Rhule said Wilson has the ability to kick a “banana ball,” which spins in the air on its side and creates a boomerang effect.

“Once you start getting across the 50 and kicking balls that guys are probably going to fair catch, it just adds another element,” Rhule said. “… When you think about the close games we’ve had, one or two turnovers (make a difference).”