Nebraska freshman Archie Wilson broke down in tears during a press conference Tuesday when a reporter asked the Australian punter about what it’s like being away from his family for the first time.
“That part is hard, I mean … I’m sorry,” Wilson, 19, said before pausing to collect himself.
“Yeah, I love them a lot,” he continued through tears. “I have two little brothers and a mom and a dad and that’s the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them.
“But they know this is what’s best for me and it’s good I can still talk to them plenty over the phone. They’re coming here to see the first few games, so I am looking forward to that.”
Wilson joined Nebraska this summer from his native Frankston South, Victoria, which is nearly 10,000 miles away.
He is the son of Jessica Bach and Lee Wilson, per the team’s website.
The 6-foot-2 punter played Australian Rules football for Haileybury College as a key defender — and was a product of Prokick Australia, which has produced eight Ray Guy Award winners and had 29 punters awarded NFL or CFL contracts, according to his Nebraska bio.
Nebraska special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler spoke highly of Wilson, adding that his teammates love him on and off of the field.
“That guy is special, he truly is,” Ekeler said. “He’s 18 years old, leaves home for the first time, goes to a different country, and leaves his family which he’s extremely close to … his teammates love him because of the energy he brings in the building, not just because of what he can do with the football.”
Nebraska opens the 2025 season against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
