Brian Buschini working on consistency and more

The Nebraska punter is a college football veteran ahead of his sixth season — the last two with the Huskers — and said Tuesday he’s ramping up his preparation to again tap into the “Boom-schini” nickname he earned at times during his career.

The big-picture task, he said, is building off a season in which NU finished 90th nationally in net punting at 37.78 yards. He’s working to be more consistent with his drops from hands to right foot, even repping with his wife, Kelly. Nightly stretching and a mental focus routine is also part of his rhythm.

“We definitely have the personnel to have a really big advantage on special teams,” Buschini said, naming kicker Tristan Alvano and new No. 1 long snapper Camden Witucki along with himself. “I think it’s about getting to the point where we go out and execute on game days and do what we can do.”

Buschini, who has had a different long snapper every season, said the junior Witucki is filling the role “amazingly,” with 2023 starter and NFL hopeful Marco Ortiz still providing tips for his former understudy.

“There hasn’t been a drop-off at all,” Buschini said. “I’ve been really excited. You won’t find a single player on our team that works harder than Camden. I can’t wait for the season because he’s going to turn some heads out there for sure.”

Marco Ortiz thrived in a thankless job for Nebraska. A long snapper is rarely the center of attention unless something has gone wrong, and Ortiz brought stability to the Huskers’ kicking and punting games in 2023. A year later, Camden Witucki will be tasked with clearing the bar Ortiz set.

The key is consistency, as much in the process as the result. It’s having a feel for the speed of the snap, the number of rotations before the ball reaches its destination with the goal of snapping not just cleanly, but in a way that the holder can put the ball straight down without having to turn the laces. Special teams coordinator Ed Foley likened the process to a golf swing. Every part has to stay the same from snap to snap. The alignment of Witucki’s feet. The motion of his hands between his legs.

“Perfection is perfection,” Foley said. “We’re always striving for it, but we don’t always get it, so sometimes we’re looking at 85 or 90% when it’s all said and done, but you just gotta go and rep.

“Marco is as good a short snapper as I’ve worked with, and he was great with that. He was meticulous about the details, and for Camden to see that was really cool. He had a good year experience behind Marco, and now he’s got to step up and do it.”

Sophomore defensive back Ethan Nation has been returning punts in practice, Foley said. Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda has been getting reps as well, but he’s limited, having torn his ACL in Nebraska’s season opener in 2023. Others have rotated through and had opportunities, and the goal is for four or five players to be capable of returning by the beginning of the season.

The Huskers’ special teams depth was a problem last year. Billy Kemp IV was the primary man deep on punts but dealt with injuries in the later part of the season. Alex Bullock muffed a punt with Kemp sidelined against Purdue. A week later, Kemp wasn’t healthy enough to run, but with few other options, he lined up deep and fair-caught balls against Michigan State. Nebraska’s chances of an explosive play on special teams were close to non-existent.

“We need a major improvement in that area,” Foley said.

In spring camp, players are practicing tracking punts, off the legs of Brian Buschini and Jacob Hohl and through the JUGS machine, within a variety of conditions. The artificial turf practice field has a crosswind. On grass, returners have the breeze either at their backs or in their faces. Geography and weather make the Big Ten a difficult place for returners, and the work in the spring is all to avoid a repeat of last season on special teams.​