LINCOLN, Neb. — Archie Wilson went viral. Then what?
Asked during a news conference last month about living as a college freshman on the other side of the globe from his family in Australia, the Nebraska punter offered a tearful answer.
Wilson’s vulnerability resonated here and in Australia. Media from his home country hurried to tell his story. Wilson was featured on “Today,” “Good Morning America” and “Inside Edition.” ESPN and the Big Ten Network carved out time during their broadcasts of Nebraska’s first two games to show the human side of a college athlete.
WHOLESOME 🥹@HuskerFootball’s punter Archie Wilson became emotional when asked about being away from his family in Australia ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Jtk3RsCF5p
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 12, 2025
Wilson moved from Frankston South, Victoria, to Nebraska three months ago, sight unseen. He’d never attended a football game, let alone played in one. He debuted in the Huskers’ 20-17 victory against Cincinnati on Aug. 28 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Wilson punted four times, pinning the Bearcats twice inside their 10-yard line.
On Saturday night in Nebraska’s home opener, Wilson and the Huskers did not punt while routing Akron 68-0.
His family — parents Lee and Jessica, and brothers Oscar, 13, and Lewis, 11 — reunited with Archie, 19, in Lincoln before the season opener. They’re set to stay through the Michigan game on Sept. 20.
What does Wilson think of all the recognition? He spoke with The Athletic this week about his adjustment to a new sport and a new environment, a whirlwind month and the good that came from his emotional display.
(Note: Conversation has been edited for clarity and length.)
When did you recognize that the viral moment could be something that drew attention for positive reasons?
After the press conference, I went and did about another hour of interviews. And if you saw me, you wouldn’t have known what happened. And then I was at the training table, getting ready to have lunch, and I checked my phone. I opened Instagram. I saw an Instagram reel. And it was me. I was like, “Oh no, boys …” I showed my teammates, I said, “I got up in the press conference and it’s gone a bit everywhere.” And then I saw it on (the) Fox (X account). I had people from Australia messaging me. I had people from everywhere messaging me. I think I gained 13,000 followers since then. There are going to be some who are a little more on the funny side, as opposed to nice, but most of the feedback was really positive.
Looking back, do you think you needed to release those emotions and feelings of homesickness, maybe even if you didn’t recognize it?
I wouldn’t say it was hidden inside of me. I just hadn’t thought about it. It was more that every day in the summer, I was doing classes and practicing, lifting. Everything I was experiencing was new. I hadn’t even had the chance to think about it. And when the question was asked, it ran through my mind, the actual scale of it and that just got me in the moment. The funny thing is, I was fine about 15 seconds later. You could see it in the clip. I’m like, “Thanks, guys, great meeting you all.” My first thought was like, “Oh damn, I want to answer more questions,” because I thought I was on a roll with the ones.
Afterward, I messaged my family group chat. I was like, “Guys, don’t stress about the interview. I promise I’m all good.”
Can you describe the role your teammates played in helping you ease the transition to a new environment?
My teammates have been awesome. They’re who I spend nearly every minute with, seeing them every day at football and lifts and meetings and practice — but also outside of football. Pretty much all of the spare time I have, I’m hanging out with a couple of other guys at the dorms or going to see a guy like (kicker) Kyle (Cunanan) at his place, and we’re going out to eat. They’re teammates, but they’re also great friends now.
From the (news conference) moment, a lot of the guys who I hadn’t gotten close to yet started reaching out and getting to know me better. It provided almost like a conversation starter for them. But my closest mates on the team just make fun of me for it now. They get a bit salty that I get some attention.
Has this experience initiated any conversations with freshman teammates about how all of you are dealing with significant changes in your lives?
Yeah, a few of them have mentioned that they’re — not struggling — but having feelings of home, that they miss it. Although I’m from a different country, everyone else is still moving to a completely new place. And I feel like a lot of those guys have also started to realize that we’re all in this together. As much as we’re teammates on the football field, we’re teammates off the field. I’d say we have a pretty good brotherhood amongst the team and have created a culture that does kind of make it feel like your second home.
Also, a lot of the coaches, because most of them played college football, mentioned, “Hey, when I was your age, I struggled a little bit with it, too.” Even people in the streets who’ve recognized me have told me that their daughter or their son has moved off to college. It’s been a thing that a lot of people can relate to. They’ve all had their little moments, just not quite in front of the cameras.
Can you describe your hometown and what you miss?
Well, it’s quite funny, I haven’t seen open water for a long time. (Nebraska) is as landlocked as you can get. I’m used to being able to see the water from my house. Also, the roads here are so confusing. Oh, my gosh. Obviously, we’re driving on the other side of the road, but we don’t have anything where all four ends meet at a stop sign. A four-way stop sign, that really throws me off.
I’m used to things being a lot more free-flowing. Where I’m from in Australia, it’s pretty chill. There’s a fair few people around, but there’s not as much congestion. It’s just a chill beachside, nice town. It’s not got anything too unique. But to be honest, I’m really enjoying Lincoln. It’s a little bit different, but it’s not the most ridiculous change in terms of the city.
How did you spend your free time, outside of competition and school, back home?
There was a lot of punting practice going on. The gym I went to was 45 minutes away from home. And practice was an hour and a bit. I got myself a job to save up before I came over here. I would have had maybe three weeks of no job before I came. And most of that was preparing, filling out a lot of forms like passports and visas, looking and learning about Lincoln.
What did you do for a job in Australia?
All right, so I’ll explain this as best as I can. It’s industrial laundry. Imagine filthy overalls and things from food factories and butchers and places where they, like, cut up chickens. Nasty conditions. But the people there were awesome. I’ve got to thank the people there a lot. I’ll give a quick shout-out, Industclean Australia. I’d basically stand outside and count loads and check pockets to make sure there’s nothing in there. And some of the stuff, I’m going to tell you right now, Mitch, these gloves that had meat on them, I had to take out a special container and put them in a machine. It was probably the worst thing I’ve ever smelled in my life.
But I enjoyed getting in there and chatting with the guys working there. It made me put into perspective how awesome playing college football is. Yeah, college football is going to be hard — and keeping up with school — but you know how good it’s really going to be when you start working and realize what other people are doing.
What’s your advice now for someone who follows in your footsteps, whether they’re traveling a short distance or playing a new sport in a new environment?
Fully immerse yourself in it. Don’t half go and half want to go back. If you’re going to do it, you’re going to do it. Get to know people where you are. Get involved and do things, because the sooner you can make the new place regular and know what’s going on there, the quicker it’ll feel like home. Every chance you get, be hanging out with teammates or get out and learn the community, learn the city. Be involved and do stuff. If you’re just going to sit there and panic about how, like, “Oh no, I wish I was at home right now,” it’s just going to eat you up. If you get involved in whatever it is that’s new, the quicker it’ll feel like it’s just normal.
Have you had time in Lincoln to find something that you enjoy outside of football?
Me and Kyle Cunanan and (long snapper) Kevin Gallic have found — his name’s Jack. Jack and Blake and Matt — these men who live on a lake about an hour away. And I’ve gotten a bit into my fishing, actually, which is something I hadn’t done much before. If we have a spare weekend or something like that, me and Kyle will drive up there with Kevin. Other than that, I’ve always got a football with me. The football definitely never leaves.
You carry it everywhere?
I’m not taking it into class. I don’t want to walk around and be that guy, “Oh, look, he wants everyone to know he plays football.” But yeah, every morning, I’m walking back and forth, kicking the football to myself. Sometimes, I get a few looks. But you know what, my favorite thing in the world is kicking a football. So if I can kick a football, I’m gonna do it.
Can you explain the emotions of reuniting with your family?
I was kinda like, “All right, let’s go see my family,” like it’s completely normal. And they clearly had a bit more emotion than I did. Now it just feels like they never left. It’s almost like, “Hey, can I get a free moment?” I don’t think it’s really sunk in for my brothers that they’re here. And dad, unfortunately, he claims to be someone who doesn’t like the attention, but he’s going out of his way to talk to everyone that he can. People hear his accent, and it’s, “Oh, you’re Archie’s dad.” So it’s been interesting — but definitely good to see them.
How did you feel suiting up and playing at Arrowhead and getting your first taste of Memorial Stadium?
Arrowhead was surreal. That place was roaring. For it to be the first game and for it to be meaningful with quality opposition in Cincinnati, it was electrifying. And going out there to punt the first time, it was weird. I was expecting to be, like, shaking. I wasn’t at all in the moment. I just went out there and hit a banana. We discussed it, “Let’s throw a banana out there and see if the returner wants to catch it.” He did. He didn’t return it, though, which was good. I came off the field after that, and I didn’t feel anything differently. It was, “Alright, I’m just out here kicking the same ball. Here we go.”
On Saturday, it was a little bit of a different story, not actually getting out there, which is definitely a good thing for the team. I was getting ready a few times. I think I’ve done a lot of good work at knowing what I can do and knowing that there really is no pressure. Of course, (Memorial Stadium) was phenomenal. Considering that it was a blowout game, it was still insanely loud. It’s just awesome the way the whole crowd is in there early, from start to finish, and they get involved in every song and every tradition.
(Top photo: Steven Branscombe / Getty Images)
