Nebraska has two kickers on its roster already. Sophomore John Hohl returns to Lincoln after a reliable season with the Huskers in 2024. In addition, former Omaha Westside product Tristan Alvano also returns to action. He spent most of last season recovering from a groin injury under ex-special teams coach Ed Foley. Now that Mike Ekeler is in charge of the unit, another specialist has entered the fray. Former Cal transfer Kyle Cunanan committed to NU on Thursday night. What does he bring to NU’s special teams?
A Dependable Leg
In his two seasons with the Charlotte 49ers, Cunanan made 70% of his field goal attempts. These are respectable numbers. However, the 180-pound sophomore did miss five of his kicks as a freshman. This is something that Ekeler should be aware of, but it shouldn’t deter him from working with him. One of Ekeler’s core philosophies is teaching players how to “talk with their pads.” One thing that the Arizona native won’t need help with is kickoffs. Cunanan was known as a kickoff specialist in Charlotte. In 51 attempts, he had 22 touchbacks. Only four kicks went out of bounds. Will his experience translate? Before joining Nebraska’s special teams, he spent the spring with Cal.
🔴 Huskers add Cal transfer kicker Kyle Cunanan (@KyleCuna)
👟 5-10, 195 lbs | 9-15 FGs in 2023 at Charlotte
✅ 5-5 FGs in 2024 (3 games, redshirted)
🎯 Will compete with Tristan Alvano & John HohlFULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/p3RqAsR15v pic.twitter.com/9gu2yXhc2U
— Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) May 2, 2025
Depth Piece
Nebraska’s special teams took a hit with the loss of New Jersey native Nico Ottomanelli. Although he didn’t play a snap in Lincoln, Ekeler could have worked to develop him. If he had stayed, he would have gotten his experience. This would come if Hohl or Alvano got reinjured. Now that they are both recovering, Ottomanelli doesn’t have a path to play. His departure marks the second for the Huskers. Last month, former Washington punter Jack McCallister departed from the Cornhusker program. After one spring in Lincoln, Ekeler and head coach Matt Rhule informed him that the Huskers were looking for an Australian-style punter.
Read more about Jack McCallister and his role was supposed to be in Names To Watch: Nebraska In The Transfer Portal
The Next Star?
The Arizona native will play a huge role in Nebraska’s special teams. He will also have to maintain the Ekeler standard. Luckily, Cunanan is eager to get started. This attitude will allow him to have success in Lincoln. But in order to truly elevate himself, he’ll have to build consistency in striking the ball. Ekeler had plenty of those kickers in his four years at Tennessee. We can point to the former Volunteer starting to make his mark on special teams in 2023. Graduate transfer Chase McGrath was able to break the Volunteers’ field goal record for most field goals made. And he had the most points in the school’s history. This trend would only continue with Max Gilbert in 2024. As a redshirt freshman, he made 20 out of his 26 field goal attempts. The Tennessee native also made a 52-yarder against Georgia. Can Cunanan live up to the hype? We aren’t sure yet. But he does have two essential ingredients. Time, and the right people to train him. Alex Henery should be able to give him pointers. In his last year with the Cornhuskers, the Omaha native earned first-team All-American honors. Plus, Brett Maher is on Rhule’s staff. He brings plenty of experience to the Big Red’s special teams. In his career with the Big Red, Maher won Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors in 2011 and 2012.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
