Latest news with #ProkickAustralia
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Aussie teenager wins over America after devastating press conference
Archie Wilson is missing his family after moving to the US to chase his punting dreams. Australian teenager Archie Wilson has won over the University of Nebraska as he embarks on a college football career as a punter in the US. But the sudden move from Melbourne to a foreign city has hit hard, with the 19-year-old former Aussie Rules junior breaking down as he spoke of missing his family. Watch the video above: Aussie teenager Archie Wilson breaks down after leaving family for college. 'That part's hard. I mean... I'm sorry,' Wilson said as he paused his press conference. 'I love them a lot. I got two little brothers, and my mum and dad. That's the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them.' Wilson said the transition has not been too difficult otherwise. But on the positive side, Wilson said his nearest and dearest are already locked in to head over to Nebraska for the start of the season later this month. 'They know this is what's best for me,' he said. 'It's good I can still talk to them plenty over the phone. They're coming here to see the first few games, so I'm looking forward to that.' Wilson was plucked out of Prokick Australia after special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler sought a similar skillset to the Aussie punters who played under him at the University of Tennessee. The Victorian can kick equally well with both feet, a talent honed after suffering a broken ankle as a junior footy player but still wanting to train. 'He's going to be a damn weapon,' Ekeler said. 'I've known about him for quite a while, and absolutely, positively everything about him was what we were looking for.' Away from the field the Aussie also aced his freshman challenge of performing a song — Piano Man by Billy Joel, in his case — during a team meeting. 'I went up and smashed it, I'm not going to lie,' Wilson laughed. The performance convinced Nebraska coach Matt Rhule that Wilson is 'just the most interesting man in the world to me' — alongside his kicking. 'I've never enjoyed (watching) punt periods in my life, but it's my favorite period of practice right now,' Rhule added. 'I just could watch Archie punt all day. I've never seen anything like it, so it's like watching a YouTube short. The guy's amazing.' Wilson's teammate Jacory Barney Jr said he was also fascinated by the Aussie's obsessions. 'That guy, he's amazing,' Barney said. 'He just walks around the facility all day just like hitting the ball, and I'm like 'Arch, bro, is this all you do?' He's like 'this is all they do in Australia'. 'He sleeps with a football, he's just kicking the ball all day, and that's all he knows is punting. So I love him. We get extra work all the time, that's my guy.' The punter looks set to play his first game of organised football at none other than Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the recent NFL Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, in a fortnight. 'I'm really excited,' Wilson said. 'I don't normally get too nervous when it comes to things. I mean, this is a whole different level, but I'm more excited. Huge crowd. Arrowhead. Thursday night. It doesn't get much bigger.'
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Mum of viral Aussie reveals phone call after devastating presser
The young Aussie playing college football in American has won the world over with his emotion on stage. The family of Australian teenager Archie Wilson, who is pursuing a career in American college football, says they are staying grounded after the world fell in love with their son and brother on Wednesday. The 19-year-old former Aussie Rules junior broke down during his first press conference at the University of Nebraska as he spoke of missing his family back home. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Archie Wilson's family speaks to Sunrise. 'That part's hard. I mean... I'm sorry,' Wilson said as he paused his press conference. 'I love them a lot. I got two little brothers, and my mum and dad. That's the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them.' Wilson won America and people around the globe over with his raw emotion as he continued through tears in front of the media pack. Speaking to Sunrise on Thursday morning, Wilson's family said Archie was OK despite the tears. 'We're going to see him in 10 days,' his mum, Jessica, said. 'I spoke to him straight away and he was absolutely fine. 'He got emotional, it was his birthday yesterday/today American time, so I think the emotion of not having us there on his first birthday away just got to him at that one point.' Archie Wilson is missing his family after embarking on a college football career in the US. Credit: X Archie's father, Lee, said the family is staying grounded amid the international headlines created by yesterday's presser. 'We're really trying not to get too far ahead of it because there's an enormity of a task at hand he's got to go out and do, and we're trying to just keep the lid on all of it,' Lee said, with their other two sons by their side. 'But it seems to have blown up and got away from everyone. 'It's a bit of a new world for us, we're not those sort of people. 'We're just trying to keep grounded and just keep him focused on his practice and what he's got to do, and go out and do what he's got to do for the team in a few weeks' time.' Jessica added: 'Extremely proud, it's a massive thing that he's doing, moving away, basically the other side of the world at such a young age. 'Extremely proud of the way he's handled himself and the way he's taken on the challenge and training extremely hard to be the best at what he's chosen to do. 'He's just a normal boy who's, like everyone, got emotions.' 'And he's good at kicking a ball,' Lee interjected with to finish. At the press conference yesterday, the teenager said other than missing his family, the transition hadn't been too bad. 'They know this is what's best for me,' he said. 'It's good I can still talk to them plenty over the phone. They're coming here to see the first few games, so I'm looking forward to that.' Wilson was plucked out of Prokick Australia after special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler sought a similar skillset to the Aussie punters who played under him at the University of Tennessee.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Aussie teenager Archie Wilson wins over Nebraska after breaking down while missing family in press conference
Australian teenager Archie Wilson has won over the University of Nebraska as he embarks on a college football career as a punter in the US. But the sudden move from Melbourne to a foreign city has hit hard, with the 19-year-old former Aussie Rules junior breaking down as he spoke of missing his family. Watch the video above: Aussie teenager Archie Wilson breaks down after leaving family for college. 'That part's hard. I mean... I'm sorry,' Wilson said as he paused his press conference. 'I love them a lot. I got two little brothers, and my mum and dad. That's the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them.' Wilson said the transition has not been too difficult otherwise. But on the positive side, Wilson said his nearest and dearest are already locked in to head over to Nebraska for the start of the season later this month. 'They know this is what's best for me,' he said. 'It's good I can still talk to them plenty over the phone. They're coming here to see the first few games, so I'm looking forward to that.' Wilson was plucked out of Prokick Australia after special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler sought a similar skillset to the Aussie punters who played under him at the University of Tennessee. The Victorian can kick equally well with both feet, a talent honed after suffering a broken ankle as a junior footy player but still wanting to train. 'He's going to be a damn weapon,' Ekeler said. 'I've known about him for quite a while, and absolutely, positively everything about him was what we were looking for.' Away from the field the Aussie also aced his freshman challenge of performing a song — Piano Man by Billy Joel, in his case — during a team meeting. 'I went up and smashed it, I'm not going to lie,' Wilson laughed. The performance convinced Nebraska coach Matt Rhule that Wilson is 'just the most interesting man in the world to me' — alongside his kicking. 'I've never enjoyed (watching) punt periods in my life, but it's my favorite period of practice right now,' Rhule added. 'I just could watch Archie punt all day. I've never seen anything like it, so it's like watching a YouTube short. The guy's amazing.' Wilson's teammate Jacory Barney Jr said he was also fascinated by the Aussie's obsessions. 'That guy, he's amazing,' Barney said. 'He just walks around the facility all day just like hitting the ball, and I'm like 'Arch, bro, is this all you do?' He's like 'this is all they do in Australia'. 'He sleeps with a football, he's just kicking the ball all day, and that's all he knows is punting. So I love him. We get extra work all the time, that's my guy.' The punter looks set to play his first game of organised football at none other than Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the recent NFL Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, in a fortnight. 'I'm really excited,' Wilson said. 'I don't normally get too nervous when it comes to things. I mean, this is a whole different level, but I'm more excited. Huge crowd. Arrowhead. Thursday night. It doesn't get much bigger.'
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
'I'm sorry': Aussie college star breaks down in tears when asked very personal question during press conference
A Nebraska college football star from Melbourne was overcome with emotion after a reporter asked him a very personal question about his family. An Australian sports star has broken down in a press conference after being asked a question about his family. Archie Wilson travelled over 16,000km to Nebraska earlier this year, leaving his family behind to chase his football dream. Wilson grew up in Frankston South playing AFL most of his life, representing Haileybury College. The 18-year-old joined the Nebraska Cornhuskers over summer and on Tuesday he became emotional during a press conference after discussing the difficulty of leaving his family in Melbourne. 'So, what's it like first time away from them (family)?' the reporter asked. 'That part is hard... I'm sorry,' Wilson said as he leant over the podium and broke down in tears. 'Yeah, I love them a lot. 'I have two little brothers and a mum and a dad and that's the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them. 'But they know this is what's best for me and it's good I can still talk to them plenty over the phone. They're coming here to see the first few games, so I am looking forward to that.' Wilson landed in the US after being picked up through the Prokick Australia program. The program has produced over 270 Australian athletes who have gained college football scholarships. — Justin Frommer (@JustinbFrommer) July 28, 2025 Currently, five Australian-raised punters are in the NFL: Mitch Wishnowsky, Michael Dickson, Tory Taylor, Cameron Johnston, and Matt Hayball. A handy Aussie football background has given Wilson a name in the States due to his ability to kick and throw the ball long distances. 'That guy is special, he truly is,' special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler said. 'He's 18 years old, leaves home for the first time, goes to a different country, and leaves his family which he's extremely close to. 'His teammates love him because of the energy he brings in the building, not just because of what he can do with the football.' Nebraska's 2025 season starts with a night game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Arrowhead Stadium – the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Aussie teenager Archie Wilson wins over Nebraska after breaking down while missing family in press conference
Australian teenager Archie Wilson has won over the University of Nebraska as he embarks on a college football career as a punter in the US. But the sudden move from Melbourne to a foreign city has hit hard, with the 19-year-old former Aussie Rules junior breaking down as he spoke of missing his family. Watch the video above: Aussie teenager Archie Wilson breaks down after leaving family for college. 'That part's hard. I mean... I'm sorry,' Wilson said as he paused his press conference. 'I love them a lot. I got two little brothers, and my mum and dad. That's the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them.' Wilson said the transition has not been too difficult otherwise. But on the positive side, Wilson said his nearest and dearest are already locked in to head over to Nebraska for the start of the season. 'They know this is what's best for me,' he said. 'It's good I can still talk to them plenty over the phone. They're coming here to see the first few games, so I'm looking forward to that.' Wilson was plucked out of Prokick Australia after special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler sought a similar skillset to the Aussie punters who played under him at the University of Tennessee. The Victorian can kick equally well with both feet, a talent honed after suffering a broken ankle as a junior footy player but still wanting to train. 'He's going to be a damn weapon,' Ekeler said. 'I've known about him for quite a while, and absolutely, positively everything about him was what we were looking for.' The Aussie also aced his freshman challenge of performing a song — Piano Man by Billy Joel, in his case — during a team meeting. 'I went up and smashed it, I'm not going to lie,' Wilson laughed. The performance convinced Nebraska coach Matt Rhule that Wilson is 'just the most interesting man in the world to me' — alongside his on-field efforts. 'I've never enjoyed (watching) punt periods in my life, but it's my favorite period of practice right now,' Rhule added. 'I just could watch Archie punt all day. I've never seen anything like it, so it's like watching a YouTube short. The guy's amazing.' Wilson's teammate Jacory Barney Jr said he was also fascinated by the Aussie's obsessions off the field. 'That guy, he's amazing,' Barney said. 'He just walks around the facility all day just like hitting the ball, and I'm like 'Arch, bro, is this all you do?' He's like 'this is all they do in Australia'. 'He sleeps with a football, he's just kicking the ball all day, and that's all he knows is punting. So I love him. We get extra work all the time, that's my guy.' The punter looks set to play his first game of organised football at none other than Arrowhead Stadium, the home of recent NFL Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, in a fortnight. 'I'm really excited,' Wilson said. 'I don't normally get too nervous when it comes to things. I mean, this is a whole different level, but I'm more excited. Huge crowd. Arrowhead. Thursday night. It doesn't get much bigger.'
