Matt Rhule discusses Husker special teams ahead of Minnesota game

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska football is opening its season against Minnesota on Thursday.

Husker head coach Matt Rhule spoke about the game and special teams at a press conference on Tuesday.

He confirmed that freshman Tristan Alvano will be the starting kicker.

“Tristan Alvano is the kicker at the University of Nebraska,” Rhule said. “That means something.”

This season, Rhule said the Huskers will not fair catch any kickoff returns.

“The game is meant to be played, so we’re going to play,” he said.

Rhule also thinks that the best players should be a part of special teams, so all 11 Blackshirts will play on the punt team.

“Part of being in that, or part of being a single digit, is that you care about the team, you’re not just worried about yourself,” he said.

At the start of the press conference, Rhule spoke about tight end Arik Gilbert, who was arrested after burglarizing a Lincoln vape shop.

“During camp, he’s had some struggles,” Rhule said. “He’s working to overcome them, we have a great group of people here trying to help him and then obviously last night happened.”