Nebraska punter's message to his family has us all choked up

Players constantly leave home to pursue their dreams of playing collegiate football. However, they don't always travel 8,000 miles from their hometown to do it.

However, Nebraska punter Archie Wilson is doing just that. The young Cornhusker grew up in Frankston South, a town in Victoria, Australia, which is more than 8,000 miles from Nebraska's home base in Lincoln.

When asked if he misses home and his family, Wilson grew visibly emotional as he talked about how much they mean to him.

"I love them a lot," Wilson said, immediately choking up. "I've got two little brothers and a mom and dad. That's the tough part about being here, I love them a lot and I miss them, but they know that this is what's best for me."

Wilson also shared that he consistently communicates with his family over the phone, and they're actually taking a trip to the United States to see his first few games as a Cornhusker.

Wilson grew up playing Australian Rules football, which has produced a lot of star kickers and punters such as former Texas kicker Justin Tucker and punter Michael Dixon. Wilson is one of the latest rising stars to make the trip across the Pacific to play American football.

Unlike the NBA, players from overseas are rarely drafted into the NFL, with most having to go down the collegiate football route to gain the necessary recognition to hear their names called during a draft.

That's exactly what Wilson meant when he said that he and his family know the best possible option is for him to pursue his dream of football in the United States, which means playing his heart out for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Wilson will play in his first American football game on Thursday, Aug. 28, against the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Cornhuskers and their Aussie punter are scheduled to kick off against the Bearcats at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.