Huskers’ Henery boots his way to stardom

LINCOLN, Neb. – Alex Henery is a reliable kicker on the field and a reluctant celebrity off it.

Kickers typically don’t attract much attention until they miss a big field goal. It’s just the opposite for Henery.

Since he launched a school-record 57-yarder late in the fourth quarter against Colorado last year, Henery has been one of the more recognizable faces for Nebraska.

“He’s a real unassuming, good guy,” quarterback Zac Lee said. “I don’t think he realizes he’s kind of a little superstar.”

Henery kicked five field goals last week to account for all of Nebraska’s scoring in a 16-15 loss at Virginia Tech, and he kicked two more in a 55-0 victory Saturday over Louisiana-Lafayette to run his streak to 21 in a row from inside 50 yards.

The Lou Groza Award candidate has made 6 of 7 field goals this season. UCLA’s Kai Forbath, who’s made 9 of 10, is the only kicker in major college football who has a higher success rate with more attempts. Henery also is the only player in the Big 12 to handle both place-kicking and punting duties.

“He’s invaluable,” coach Bo Pelini said. “I always say he has ice water in his veins. He just walks out there and does his job. His demeanor never changes. You add the punting to what he’s been able to do as a place-kicker, and he’s been pretty exceptional. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone in the country.”

Henery, a junior, was 26 for 29 on field goals and 101 for 102 on extra points entering this season, and Pelini rewarded him with a scholarship in August.

“I never had expectations for it,” Henery said. “If it comes, it comes. No rush. I wasn’t too worried about it.”

Henery grew up playing soccer and never had kicked a football, at least seriously, until he was a freshman in high school.

When it became apparent that he would be Burke High’s starting kicker as a sophomore, he put all he had into the endeavor.

“I’m someone who doesn’t want to go out and just be OK at it,” he said.