In an effort to resolve their ongoing struggles with field goal execution, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have turned to the NCAA transfer portal, officially welcoming FCS long snapper Kevin Gallic from the University of New Hampshire. Gallic, who brings with him a wealth of experience after starting three seasons for the Wildcats, made his decision public on social media platform X, choosing Nebraska over interest from schools like Akron, Massachusetts, and TCU.
This move comes on the heels of a turbulent season for the Huskers, highlighted by a heartbreaking 13-10 defeat to Iowa, marred by a critical snapping error that proved costly. Historically, Nebraska’s field goal kicking unit showed signs of improvement throughout the latter part of the season, particularly in October and November. However, a botched snap led to a missed opportunity for a third-quarter field goal against Iowa, one that could have extended their lead to 13-0.
Earlier this season, the Huskers faced challenges that forced them to rotate between two different snappers, Camden Witucki and Aidan Flege, during a game against Purdue in which they failed to successfully convert any of their three field goal attempts. Notably, two of those attempts were blocked, underscoring the urgency for a more reliable snapping option. Head coach Matt Rhule didn’t mince words following Nebraska’s recent 28-10 victory over Purdue, attributing the troubles to snapping rather than protection issues. “Last week to me wasn’t the field goal protection team, it was the snapper,” Rhule stated. “If you’re kicking the ball at like 1.5 seconds operation time, to me it’s the snapper.”
The offseason also saw Marco Ortiz, the 2023 snapper for Nebraska, attracting interest at the NFL Combine for specialists. As the Cornhuskers look to turn the page and improve in the upcoming season, the addition of Gallic could prove vital in fortifying their special teams unit.
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