One of the most interesting position fights for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team when fall camp opens is at kicker. There's a new Special Teams Coordinator, even if Mike Ekeler isn't actually new to Lincoln. There's also a well-known kicker at this point in former in-state prospect Tristan Alvano. The question is whether Alvano can finally win the job based on merit, instead of a lack of better options.
As the Hastings Tribune wrote earlier this week, at the very least, Alvano is healthy enough to give it a shot.
"It was tough," Alvano told the publication. "Having surgery in June, I knew it would be tough to get back. I was able to help out the team in some ways in the first three games, and I'm happy I got that opportunity to be out there. It's hard to do something when you aren't healthy."
This year, he's ready to really give it a go for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Now it's all about whether he can take advantage.
Nebraska Cornhuskers sign several head coaches to extensions
Nebraska has finalized new contracts with the head coaches of four programs coming off successful seasons. AD Troy Dannen announced earlier this week that softball head coach Rhonda Revelle, head track and field coach Justin St. Clair, women's bowling head coach Paul Klempa, and men's gymnastics head coach Chuck Chmelka have all signed new deals and extensions.
Nebraska linebacker among Big Ten's best returners
Marques Watson-Trent was one of the best transfer portal additions for the Huskers over the winter. PFF believes he's one of the best returning linebackers in the entire conference.
Watson-Trent was ranked as the No. 2 LBer in the Big Ten among returners, behind only Oregon's Bryce Boettcher. The former Georgia Southern Golden Eagle tallied 120 tackles a year ago for the Sun Belt team. The Cornhuskers would love to see that kind of production again.
Nebraska baseball looking to reload and wait
Nebraska baseball is losing two incoming players to the MLB draft and will wait on the decision of another after a flurry of selections and signings concluded Monday afternoon.
The Huskers had three committed prospects on professional radars this cycle and all saw their names pop during or after the 615-pick event. Junior-college right-hander Cash Kuiper went to Detroit in the 12th round (No. 369 overall) while two-way lefty prep talent Carter Gwost landed with Pittsburgh in the 17th round (No. 503). Recent Division II pitcher transfer J.D. Hennen later announced on social media he inked a free-agent deal with Baltimore.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers will have to replace a number of players they thought were already replacements for the 2026 squad. A reality in this era of professional baseball and one Will Bolt has had to deal with before.