Kunalic willing to redshirt this season

[Nexus]

Adi Kunalic accepted a scholarship to Nebraska so he could kick field goals and extra points.

 

He never figured — then again, who did? — that a skinny walk-on and former soccer player would secure such a stranglehold on the position.

 

Alex Henery has earned star status in the process.

 

“He’s good, and I’m glad,” Kunalic said. “He’s probably one of the best kickers Nebraska’s had, and I give him respect.

 

“But I came here to try to do that, and I think it will work out in my favor if I would get the chance be a field goal kicker and do kickoffs.”

 

That’s why Kunalic is eyeing a redshirt this coming season.

 

Both he and Henery will be seniors, so taking his available redshirt is the only foreseeable way Kunalic can fulfill his wish.

 

“I obviously want to redshirt. I want to do that,” said Kunalic, whose booming leg has been a valuable asset on kickoffs the past three seasons. “But if it means us not being good next year on special teams, then obviously I want to help the team.

 

“But honestly, (redshirting) is what I want to do, because I feel like I can help the team in the long run, and I feel like I can help myself also try to get a shot at the next level.”

 

Kunalic said there’s no timeline for a decision, and that the coaches will ultimately decide what’s best for the team.

 

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said Kunalic is his kickoff man until further notice.

 

“We’re about the here and now and doing what’s best for the football team. How that plays out, I don’t know,” Pelini said. “I can’t look into a crystal ball and have that all figured out yet.”

 

Kunalic, a senior from Fort Worth, Texas, helped Nebraska’s kickoff coverage unit rank No. 15 nationally last season. His 29 touchbacks, on 73 kickoffs, were third-most in the nation.

 

Nebraska enjoyed a plus 7.1-yard advantage in starting field position last season.

 

“A lot of it has to do with how good our guys are and the confidence they give me, when I know that no matter what happens, they’ll cover the ball,” said Kunalic, who has 89 career touchbacks. “The credit really goes to them.”

 

It’s why Kunalic believes Nebraska would succeed on kickoffs this season without him. He said kickers Brett Maher, a walk-on from Kearney, and Tyler Daake, a walk-on from Norfolk, are getting looks on kickoffs this spring, and that walk-on Jason Dann, from Richardson, Texas, will join the competition come fall.

 

“If those guys can do a good job,” Kunalic said, “with the cover team we have, I think we’ll be good in that aspect of the game.”

 

Under that scenario, Kunalic would sit, then return in 2011 as the likely replacement for Henery.

 

But the question remains: Would you shelve your key weapon on a special teams unit that played so soundly the year before?

 

“We had such success last year with it. They want to have that back,” Kunalic said. “But they also know having me back that following year would be good on field goals because I’m experienced, and I’d be able to help them out on the kickoff part, too.”

 

To date, Kunalic’s only career field-goal attempt is a 46-yarder he made as a true freshman — in Nebraska’s season opener against Nevada in 2007.

 

“I’m just focused on getting better in my aspect of the game,” Kunalic said. “But field goals is one thing I came here to do, and I wish I could actually go out and do that.”

 

LINK

[Enhance]

Even Kunalic touched on my worries. Who will be our kick off specialist if he isn't? I've never seen (or remember seeing) Henery do a kick off, and I don't remember seeing any of the younger players do one either. Henery has good leg strength (see Colorado 2008), but does that necessarily mean he could do kick offs? That's a lot of responsibility for one player having to control kick offs, field goals, and punts. Short of him, we only have unproven kickers.

[Husker_x]

Suppose he hasn't recovered from that Texas botch?

[Enhance]

I think he's O.K. now. He had a pretty solid game against Arizona. I don't know if he recorded any touchbacks, but the special teams unit played a pretty solid game save one 20+ yard return.

[TXHSKR]

I understand he wants to try to play at the next level, but how many teams draft a kicker? Don't most kickers try out as free agents and then get signed? Henery might be an exception since he is also punting, and may help with making room on a salary cap.

[Husker N KC]

Even Kunalic touched on my worries. Who will be our kick off specialist if he isn't? I've never seen (or remember seeing) Henery do a kick off, and I don't remember seeing any of the younger players do one either. Henery has good leg strength (see Colorado 2008), but does that necessarily mean he could do kick offs? That's a lot of responsibility for one player having to control kick offs, field goals, and punts. Short of him, we only have unproven kickers.

 

Henery did some pooch kicking 2 years ago and I believe a couple of kick offs. Also as the article states there are 2 walk-ons who have been on the team for at least a year and the new kid (Jason Dann (also a Walk-on)) is supposed to be one of the better kickers from this last recruiting class. I think we should be able to redshirt him. Will we get as many touchbacks... no, but we will still have good kick coverage.

 

 

I understand he wants to try to play at the next level, but how many teams draft a kicker? Don't most kickers try out as free agents and then get signed? Henery might be an exception since he is also punting, and may help with making room on a salary cap.

 

The top kickers go late in the draft. Around 5th round at the earliest. The rest go FA.

[GSG]

I understand he wants to try to play at the next level, but how many teams draft a kicker? Don't most kickers try out as free agents and then get signed? Henery might be an exception since he is also punting, and may help with making room on a salary cap.

 

Dallas drafted David Buehler from USC in the 5th round last year. He was the first kicker taken. All he does is kickoff though.

[GMoose]

If he did redshirt it might a good chance for whoever the next kicker may be to get some good gametime experience, if Henery doesn't do the kickoffs. It could clear up some questions for the long run.

 

I also think that our kickoff coverage unit will be pretty solid this year. If we don't have a kicker who kicks touchbacks half the time like Adi, I think we'd be OK. I vote yes to him redshirting.

[M I K E]

I'd give him the redshirt. I can't imagine that there would be a huge drop off in our kick off coverage if we have someone else do it, even if there are less touchbacks. I say give the kid a chance to prove himself as a place kicker and improve his chances to make it to the next level. Maybe he can mentor the young kickers this year instead.

[KingBlank]

Henery actually and Adi split kick off sometimes under Callahan for those who do not know. And this idea has been around for two years and is not new, probably should do it, remember Nebraska always has good kickers(-Congdon) because they have to practice in the wind.

[papersun87]

Henery put kickoffs through the uprights in high school, I think he can handle it.

[frazier9495]

I think Henery would be good at kick offs but I would be slightly worried about adding yet another responsibility. Don't want that precious leg of his getting any sort of fatigue because he added kick offs to his resume.

[jsneb83]

Henery actually and Adi split kick off sometimes under Callahan for those who do not know. And this idea has been around for two years and is not new, probably should do it, remember Nebraska always has good kickers(-Congdon) because they have to practice in the wind.

Why is Nebraska so windy?

 

Because Iowa sucks and Colorado blows.

[GMoose]

Henery actually and Adi split kick off sometimes under Callahan for those who do not know. And this idea has been around for two years and is not new, probably should do it, remember Nebraska always has good kickers(-Congdon) because they have to practice in the wind.

Why is Nebraska so windy?

 

Because Iowa sucks and Colorado blows.

ZING!!!

[UGAHusker]

The legendary Colorado '08 field goal was 57 yards and had a few yards to spare...