Nebraska set to add kicker from Australia to 2026 class

Nebraska is expected to add a signature from Pro Kick Australia kicker Michael Sarikizis, a kicker from Australia who special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler identified and has monitored for some time.

Sarikizis is expected to join Nebraska’s program as a freshman, with five years of eligibility. He’ll join John Hohl, Kyle Cunanan and Tristan Alvano in Nebraska’s place-kicker room.

Cunanan was Nebraska’s starter all season, he connected on 16-of-19 field goal attempts and made all 43 of his extra-point tries. Of eighteen kickoffs, nine of Cunanan’s were touchbacks. He joined the program after two seasons at Charlotte and spent the 2025 spring season at Cal. He’s expected to have three years of eligibility left, two seasons to play. Hohl was Nebraska’s primary primary kickoff specialist this season, recording 24 touchbacks on 50 kickoffs. He’s entering his redshirt junior season after one season at Iowa Western and two years at Nebraska. Alvano played in two games this fall as a redshirt sophomore, and could look to move on after the season.

Sarikizis is the tenth addition to Nebraska’s 2026 cycle and the lone special teams commit in the class. The Huskers are set to officially add all ten members of the class to the program on Signing Day.

This is the second straight season Nebraska has dipped into Australia for a special teams position. Late last cycle, the Huskers added punter Archie Wilson. Wilson was Nebraska’s starter, despite never playing in a football game prior to this season. He has placed 12 of his 32 punts this season inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Only four of Wilson’s 32 punts were returned.