In my last ‘Getting to 105’ I stated it was the last post on players, and I’d move on to the coaching staff. However, I forgot special teams, so today’s ‘105’ is Special Teams. If you’ve been following along, then you know I established my 105 by first determining how many players are needed at each position. On special teams, I decided on 2 place kickers, 2 punters, and 1 long snapper, for a total of (5). However, that could change with the evaluation of personnel. Sometimes your place kickers and punters can be backups for one another if needed. This staff will also need to determine if a second long snapper is needed or if there is someone else on the team who could fill-in if required.
Nebraska’s special teams over the last seven seasons have been appalling. The addition of Mike Ekler as the special teams coordinator should be an absolute game changer. Rhule himself admitted this week that he was turned off on the possibility of hiring Ekler when media and fans clamored for his hiring. “I don’t love celebrity coaches. At the end of the day, I just love a bunch of guys who love to work” Rhule said. But after meeting with Ekler, Rhule just couldn’t get him out of his brain and what he had done at Tennessee.
The 53-year-old Ekler is known for his intensity and desire to have the best unit on the field. He will be demanding and motivate his players to perform at a top level. He has an infectious attitude which will rub off on his players and fellow coaches. And I love this quote from Ekler during his press conference, “I’m a blue-collar guy, I’m not going to say we’re going to do this, we’re going to do that. We are going to put our pads on, and we’ll talk with our damn pads.”
If that isn’t enough to get you excited, look at some of Tennessee’s special team stats. In doing so, it becomes clear as to why Rhule pursued Ekler. In four seasons as Tennessee’s STC, they allowed one blocked punt, and zero blocked field goals. Over that same period, they blocked eight punts. In comparison, Nebraska had 10 kicks blocked last season alone. When punting, Tennessee pinned their opponents inside the ten-yard line 17 times.
In the last three seasons, Tennessee has had over 1,300 punt return yards and allowed less than 170 return yards. In 2024 Tennessee averaged 15.7 return yards per attempt. Once again, in comparison Nebraska had a total of 23 kick return yards and 73 put return yards last season. That equates to 4.87 yards per attempt on punt returns. As you can see, Ekler has no place to take this team but up.
The Huskers lost two special team players. Punter Brian Buschini graduated, and long snapper Camden Witucki left the team. The Huskers didn’t add anyone from the high school ranks but brought in two players from the transfer portal. However, there is a third portal add that I feel needs to be mentioned, Andrew Marshall.
Portal Transfers
Kevin Gallic 6’0” 239lbs., Sr, LS, New Hampshire
Jack McCallister 6’0” 216lbs., Sr, Punter/Holder, Washington
Andrew Marshall 6’0”, 185lbs., Jr, DB, Idaho
Gallic comes from an FCS school and played in 36 games. Statistically there isn’t much you can share on a long snapper, but if you are aware of him being in the game, it’s probably for the wrong reasons. After having Marco Ortiz in 2023 Husker fans were spoiled. This season was a wake-up call. Filling the position of long snapper through the transfer portal was vital for Nebraska. Gallic was the best long snapper in the portal and Nebraska made sure they got him. It is easy to say the kicking game cost Nebraska multiple games last season, several of those errors were due to snapping. The addition of Gallic was an absolute must.
McCallister in three seasons averaged 42.3 yards on 104 punts with a 3.86 second hang time. He placed 31 kicks inside the 20 and had 8 punts of 50 yards plus. He played three years at Washington but left due to the new staff wanting to go in a different direction, looking at a rugby style punter who could roll out. That wasn’t McCallister. His arrival will give Kamdyn Koch another year to develop.
Marshall is another FCS player with the talent needed to play in the B1G. What makes Marshall a real hidden gem is that he’s listed as a cornerback but he’s also a talented kick returner. He has returned 8 kickoffs for 327 yards for a 40.9-yard average with a 100-yard touchdown. He also has 14 punt returns for a 10.7-yards average and one touchdown of 47-yards. He started 26 games at Idaho. In two seasons he had 72 total tackles, 8 pass breakups, 1 ½ tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. While some may be concerned about the talent level he faced in the FCS, Marshall had what may have been his best game of the season against former five-star Oregon receiver Evan Stewart, holding Stewart to 3 catches for 15 yards while making 9 solo tackles. He earned first-team All-Big Sky honors. To give you an idea of his value, he picked Nebraska over Miami.
After losses and additions, the Huskers stand at 3 place kickers, 2 punters and 2 long snappers. Of the 7 players on the roster there are 2 seniors, 1 junior, 2 sophomores, and 2 red-shirt freshmen.
Current Roster
John Hohl, 6’0”, 180lbs, So, PK
Tristan Alvano, 6’1”, 205lbs, So, PK
Nico Ottomanelli, 6’2”, 185lbs, RFr, PK
Kamdyn Koch, 6’2”, 205lbs, RFr, P
Aiden Flege, 6’2”, 215lbs, Sr, LS
Hohl returns for his sophomore season after filling in for an injured Alvano. After Alvano went down Hohl replaced him and struggled early but finished the season making 9/10 FG’s. He played 13 games and started in 10. He had 5 touchbacks on 17 kickoffs. On the season he went 23/25 on extra points and 10/15 on field goals. He made three kicks on the road at Ohio State with his longest being 54 yards. When Hohl did have problems it weas due to poor snaps or bad holds due to snaps.
Alvano started the first 3 games of the season before getting injured. After it became apparent, he lacked the ability to kick over 30 yards he was replaced by Hohl. On the season he went 12/12 on extra points and 3/4 on field goals, with his longest being 31 yards. Alvano came to Nebraska with high expectations after being one of the most sought-after kickers in the country. He was Nebraska’s starting kicker as a true freshman in 2023 and finished the season 27/27 on extra points and 9/15 on field goals. His longest kick on the season 2023 was 54 yards. Rhule listed Alvano as one of the players who would miss spring ball due to injury.
Ottomanelli redshirted and did not play in a game in 2024. Coming out of highs school his kicking ranked him as a 4.5-star prospect as a kicker and a 4-star prospect as a punter. He will compete against Hohl and Alvano for a spot on the 105-man roster.
Koch came to Nebraska as one of the most highly ranked punters in the country. In high school he served as his team’s punter, place kicker, and kickoff specialist. He served as the team’s 2nd punter in 2024 and redshirted. He is the son of former Husker punter Sam Koch who set multiple records at Nebraska from 2001 to 2004. After college Sam played 16 season in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens.
Flege played in 12 games for the Husker last season serving as the team’s primary long snapper in the last six games. As a student he didn’t join the team until the summer of 2024 after it became evident Nebraska needed help at the long snapper position. He’ll return for the 2025 season to compete with Kevin Gallic.
I’ve only listed seven true special team players and could see possibly five to six making the 105-man roster. I can’t see this team carrying 3 place kickers and 2 long snappers when trying to hit the 105 mark. But remember, there will be some form of carrying injured players on the roster without it counting against the 105.
As for kick returners, the field is wide open with Emmett Johnson, Kwinton Ives, Jacory Barny Jr. and Andrew Marshall as the early favorites. If the season were to start today with everyone healthy, my starters would appear as follows:
Kevin Gallic 6’0” 239lbs., LS
John Hohl, 6’0”, 180lbs, PK/Kickoffs
Jack McCallister 6’0” 216lbs., Punter/Holder
Andrew Marshall 6’0”, 185lbs., PR
Jacorey Barny Jr., 6’0” 170lbs, KR
Kwinton Ives, 6’3” 210lbs, KR
This will be an interesting and exciting season for Husker fans as they anticipate much improved special team units with the addition of Mike Ekler. As I said earlier, Ekler has no place to take this team but up. Like several of Nebraska’s 2025 position rooms, this group is deep on talent and somewhat short on experience. The experience comes with the long snapper and punter, while the talent and youth come in the kickers and return men. But look for Ekler to figure it out and get it right.
That sums up getting to 105 as far as the players are concerned. Up next, we’ll look at the coaching staff. Knowing the staff and their backgrounds will be a good indicator of what is important to each of them and how it will affect the roster.
All stats gathered from espn.com and The University of Nebraska’s official website.
Go to Off The Cob to see the current 105-man roster and more on Husker football.