After battling injury, Tristan Alvano ready to compete for starting kicker job

It’s safe to say Tristan Alvano‘s career at Nebraska did not get off to the start anyone wanted.

After arriving at Nebraska following a stellar senior season at Omaha (Neb.) Westside, Alvano’s true freshman campaign in 2023 didn’t go well.

Alvano connected on 60% of his field goal attempts (9-of-15) and struggled from distance, going only 2-of-7 from 40-49 yards. After starting 1-of-4, he eventually became more consistent down the stretch, ending the season making eight of his final 11 attempts. Against Purdue, Alvano drilled a 55-yarder.

But offseason surgery on a nagging groin injury in June 2024 meant rehab time in the summer. Alvano played in the first three games last season and went 3-of-4 with a long of 31 yards before the decision was made to shut him down.

“It just wasn’t getting any better. And it’s hard because it’s not diagnosable, right?” head coach Matt Rhule said of Alvano’s injury during the season. “So I think the thought process was just to shut him down last week, as of Wednesday. Just didn’t feel great on Tuesday. Shut him down last week, however many weeks it takes, and then try to start to build him up.”

That move paved the way for John Hohl to get an opportunity. When the operation in front of him was clean — the snap and hold — Hohl was solid for a young kicker. The Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest product went 10-of-15 on field goals in 2024, but snapping issues in front of him were inconsistent.

Like Alvano did as a freshman, Hohl got better as the season went on. He made nine of his final 10 attempts. He went 8-of-8 in the games against Ohio State, USC and Wisconsin. At Ohio State, Hohl made a 54-yarder, which tied for the longest field goal in a road game in school history.

Speaking with Huskers Radio Network on Thursday, Alvano said he needed a second surgery in October.

“It was really tough. I knew having surgery in June it was going to be tough to get back,” Alvano said. “It was good to help out the team in some ways for the first three games. Happy I got the opportunity to be out there. But something I learned was, it’s really hard to do something when you’re not healthy. Really, it was great to end up getting surgery again in October and attack the winter and get ready for spring. Now we’re here, so it’s go time.”

Alvano will be competing with John Hohl and Cal transfer Kyle Cunanan for the PK job

Alvano kicked during the Husker Games scrimmage in April and was true from 30, 40 and 50 yards. Now feeling healthy, he’s ready to head into a competition with Hohl, who was limited in the spring with a quad strain, and Cal transfer Kyle Cunanan, who joined the team in May.

Alvano has been putting in the work in the weight room to strengthen his legs.

“I think the strength is definitely back, I think I’ve worked really hard in the weight room and put on muscle,” the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Alvano said. “I think the strength and explosiveness is back. Now it just comes down to ball-striking and trying to be as consistent as I can and have the same approach for every kick.”

Cunanan spent two seasons at Charlotte before transferring to Cal. He was only at Cal for the spring before transferring out because Cal wasn’t going to add his preferred major, construction management.

For his career at Charlotte, Cunanan made 70% of his field goal attempts (14-of-20) with a career-long of 49 yards. In total, Cunanan went 5-of-5 from 20-29 yards, 4-of-7 from 30-39 yards, 5-of-7 from 40-49 yards and 0-of-1 from 50-plus.

“It’s absolutely a competition. At the end of the day, they’re looking for the guy who makes the most kicks do the job. If you make that pool a little larger, you should have a little more quality in there,” Cunanan told Inside Nebraska. “So it’s definitely a competition, and competition pushes kids to do the best they can. At the end of the day, it’s going to make all three of us better. And whoever makes the most kicks is the one who’s going to be the best on the team and that’s who’s going to play. And what’s best for the team is what matters at the end of the day.”

Brett Maher has made an impact on Alvano

Former Husker and NFL kicker Brett Maher joined Nebraska’s coaching staff in September last season to work with the kickers. He’ll head into this season with the title of special teams assistant.

“I think Brett really helped me out last year getting me ready to go in regards to what I could do,” Alvano said. “He’s a genius, he picks up on the small things. And it really helps that he was a kicker himself, he kicked at the highest level for years.”

Alvano said he’s feeling confident heading into the 2025 campaign. Maher has obviously made an impact, as has sports psychologist Dr. Michael Stout.

Alvano said having experience kicking in the Big Ten is huge. He doesn’t feel like an 18-year-old with so much pressure and expectation on his shoulders anymore.

“I really feel sharp,” Alvano said. “For me, it all comes down to ball-striking and controlling the controllables.”