Georgia Southern University Athletics

2023-24: Played four games, taking over kickoff duties late in the season … Was on the field for 18 special teams snaps … Had 16 kickoffs, nine of which went for touchbacks … Had a touchback in his lone kickoff in the opener against The Citadel … Kicked off seven times at Marshall … Kicked off six times at App State … Had three kickoffs, and also had a successful onsides kick against Ohio in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

2022-23: Handled Nebraska’s kickoff duties for the second straight season in 2022 … Booted 36 of his 54 kickoffs for touchbacks … Only 15 of his kickoffs were returned … Helped Nebraska limit the opponents to just 18.0 yards per return … Had two touchbacks on four kickoffs in the opener against Northwestern before recording booting five touchbacks on seven kickoffs against both North Dakota and Georgia Southern … Recorded a touchback on all three of his kickoffs against No. 6 Oklahoma … Had five touchbacks in six kickoffs against Indiana … Kicked off three times at Rutgers and had two touchbacks … Tied his season high with five touchbacks and seven kickoffs at Purdue … Reached the end zone on all three of his kickoffs against Illinois … Recorded one touchback on four kickoffs against Illinois … Reached the end zone with all three of his kickoffs against Wisconsin … Recorded touchbacks on two his five kickoffs at Iowa in the season finale … Entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in December … Enrolled at Georgia Southern in January … Made the Honor Roll in the spring.

2021-22: Won the job as Nebraska’s kickoff specialist in his first season as a Husker … Booted 38 touchbacks on his 62 kickoffs … Recorded four touchbacks in six attempts at Illinois and allowed only one kickoff return for 9 yards … Then had five touchbacks on five kickoffs in the win over Fordham … Had three touchbacks on five kickoffs against Buffalo and two touchbacks in four kickoffs at No. 3 Oklahoma … Recorded two touchbacks in five kickoffs at No. 20 Michigan State … Had five touchbacks on a career-high nine kickoffs against Northwestern … Recorded two touchbacks on five kickoffs against No. 9 Michigan, and the Wolverines averaged only 19.0 yards on the three kickoffs they returned … Then had three touchbacks in five kickoffs at Minnesota, and the Golden Gophers averaged only 15.5 yards on their two kickoff returns … Recorded touchbacks on all four of his kickoffs against Purdue … Had two touchbacks on four kickoffs against No. 6 Ohio State … Had two touchbacks on five kickoffs at No. 19 Wisconsin … In the final game of the season, recorded four touchbacks in his five kickoffs against No. 17 Iowa … The lone kick he didn’t boot for a touchback was a free kick from the 20-yard line following a Husker safety.

2020-21: Played a season for Morningside College and made 3-of-4 PAT attempts, while handling kickoff duties where he knocked 35-of-59 kickoffs for touchbacks.

HIGH SCHOOL: Did not play football in high school at Gretna, but was the starting goalie for the Dragons’ soccer team.

PERSONAL: Born Brendan William Franke on October 17 in Gretna, NE … Son of Jason Franke and Krissy Simon, and his stepfather is Dave Simon … Has three siblings: Taylor Danley, Kortian Franke and Elisa Franke.

MAJOR: Interdisciplinary Studies