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Nebraska Football Position Previews: Specialists
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- Nebraska Football Position Previews: Specialists
Leading up to Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago, Huskers Illustrated is examining each position group for Nebraska . Position groups: Quarterback , Running Back , Wide Receiver , Tight End , Offensive Line , Defensive Line , Linebacker , Defensive Back , Specialists.
Today: Specialists
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Coaches: Brett Maher & Nick Humphrey
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Impact Additions: Michael Sarikizis
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Key Returners: Archie Wilson , Jacory Barney Jr.
Outlook
The punt game is set on both sides, with Archie Wilson punting and Jacory Barney Jr. likely to handle returns. The kick return unit will need someone new, with Kenneth Williams departing for Michigan State. Expect Barney to be choice No. 1 there, too, though other talented individuals could step in. As for place kicker and kickoff duties, a combination of Kyle Cunanan and John Hohl is in order, with Australian freshman Michael Sarikzis the dark horse to take over either or both roles.
The biggest questions for special teams are not personnel-related; they hinge on the leadership.
Mike Ekeler brought Nebraska's special teams out of the cellar, but he's now at USC. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Brett Maher has all of the experience as a specialist for Nebraska. He was both the Big Ten Kicker and Punter of the Year in 2011, before kicking in the NFL for five seasons.
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Nick Humphrey played at Tennessee under former Husker special teams coach Mike Ekeler. Humphrey made his mark in coverage on special teams, prompting him to follow that path as a graduate assistant at Tennessee before working as an analyst in Lincoln last year.
With Ekeler now at USC, can the combination of Maher and Humphrey prevent the third phase of the game from dropping off?
Nebraska was chaotically bad at special teams before Ekeler. Then in 2025, the Huskers were considered one of the better units in the nation, even if mistakes still happened from time to time.
Even an average unit in 2026 would represent progress and something to build on under new leadership at the position. The personnel is there to run it back, but it will be interesting to see if Maher and Humphrey try to scheme up anything new to increase production or block more punts and kicks.
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Who's Back
In the return game, Barney Jr. had the most attempts on both kickoffs and punts. He had 22 punt returns for 270 yards, averaging 12.3 yards per return. On kick returns, he had 13 attempts for 275 yards, averaging 21.2 yards per return.
Jamir Conn, Isaiah Mozee, Mekhi Nelson, and Caleb Benning are all back, having attempted at least one return last season.
At punter, Archie Wilson had 37 punts for 1,459 yards, averaging 39.4 yards per punt. He put 12 of those inside the 20-yard line and had five punts of more than 50 yards.
Kyle Cunanan is the favorite to resume starting place kicker duties this fall. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Kyle Cunanan was the only Husker to kick field goals last season. He made 16-of-19, with a long of 52 yards. He was a perfect 45-for-45 on extra points. Cunanan also handled 18 kickoffs, with nine of them going for touchbacks.
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John Hohl was the main kickoff specialist, doing so 54 times. He had 25 of those down for touchbacks, but also put two out of bounds.
Key Battle
Kyle Cunanan vs. John Hohl vs. Michael Sarikizis
Cunanan was the place kicker last year, with Hohl the main kickoff specialist. Hohl was the main place kicker the year before. Both have the goods to go from 50+. Will their roles stay the same in 2026?
Enter the wildcard from Down Under. Michael Sarikizis comes to Lincoln from the same training academy as Archie Wilson: Prokick Australia. Despite being behind in experience, could Sarikizis upset Cunanan or Hohl for either spot this fall?
