Nebraska football will be adding at least one new player to the roster this spring, as we found out on Wednesday that the Huskers will have a new punter this season.
Jack McCallister, who transferred from Washington during the winter transfer portal window, hit the portal again on Wednesday after what he called “A change of circumstances.”
What changed was the special teams coach. Ed Foley was fired by Nebraska football this offseason, after McCallister came over from Washington. The difference between Foley and Mike Ekeler, the new special teams coach for the Huskers, is that Ekeler prefers a rugby-style punter, according to Sean Callahan of Husker Online.Â
McCallister isn’t that. He left Washington for that same reason, so his entrance back into the transfer portal makes perfect sense. It also means that Nebraska football needs to add a punter in the coming weeks. Heck, it might happen in the next few days.
The Huskers have probably been back-channeling with a punter. Who knows, maybe Nebraska can convince Jackson Ross, the punter for Tennessee last season, to hop into the portal. Jackson is a rugby-style punter who was All-Freshman SEC back in 2022. He also started as the punter for the Vols in the 2024 season.
Ross has 42 punts downed inside the 20 in two seasons and 18 punts of over 50 yards. Even if he doesn’t leave Tennessee, which is just speculation, you can see the results of rugby-style punting when you get an effective punter.
So keep an eye out, Nebraska football fans. I made the case for a running back and defensive tackle to be added earlier this week, but a punter will be coming, we just don’t know who.
For More Nebraska content, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook Page, and Subscribe to the Husker Big Red YouTube Channel. You can also find our podcast on Apple or Spotify.