LINCOLN — The crowd focuses Connor Culp. He lines up, takes a deep breath and sails the ball through the uprights. The Sea of Red, back in Memorial Stadium in full force, is on its feet, roaring.
At least that’s how Culp envisions it.
The reigning Big Ten kicker of the year hasn’t kicked for Husker fans in Memorial Stadium yet, but he’s ecstatic for the spring game and the season to come.
The graduate transfer from LSU sat out last Saturday’s open practice, nursing a “tweak.” But he was still energized by the 3,000-plus in attendance.

Connor Culp
“I got my juices flowing, even last week (with) just a few thousand in there,” said Culp, who has since returned to practice. “I’m really looking forward to that because I haven’t experienced that in a while and realized last week how much I actually missed it.”
People are also reading…
The silence without fans made kicking “a little awkward” last season. Culp, who is seemingly not bothered by much, adjusted to the moment and made 13 of 15 field goals and all 20 extra points.
His first campaign as a Husker earned him Nebraska’s lone first-team All-Big Ten selection.
Now he’s taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility to fulfill what he was promised when he arrived in Lincoln — performing in front of the best fans in college football.
“I’d love to have another opportunity to play in front of fans again,” Culp said. “And also it doesn’t hurt too bad staying in college for another year, either.”
After the kicking fiasco of 2019 — six players attempted field goals, including one from the club soccer team — Culp is providing stability.
He started 10 games for LSU his freshman year in 2017 and won a national championship in 2019 before transferring to Nebraska.
Culp was recruited by former special teams analyst Jonathan Rutledge. Now Mike Dawson, also the outside linebackers coach, is the special teams coordinator. New defensive analyst Bill Busch, who was a LSU assistant while Culp was there, also may help with special teams.
Culp said Dawson is doing “a great job,” though he has had to adjust to having a full-time coordinator who can do hands-on coaching. Analysts, like Rutledge was last year, are limited to off-field roles.
Culp has kicked in many big stadiums in the SEC and Big Ten. How does Memorial Stadium compare to Tiger Stadium?
“It’s a little bit windier than Tiger Stadium,” Culp said. “There’s been times in practice when the flags are going both ways. So you just kind of hit your best ball and go right down the middle and hope for the best.”
Entering his fifth season as a college kicker, Culp is confident in his stroke.
“I’m to the point in my career right now, (I’ve) already mastered my own technique,” Culp said. “But there’s always still little areas to improve and try now because you have time to work on it.”
He’s proud of his efforts so far — including the kicker of the year award — but he still has another season of football in Lincoln.
“It’s obviously very humbling,” Culp said. “But that’s in the past now. I’m definitely looking forward to this season, and just take it one kick at a time.”
Photos: Nebraska football open spring practice

Nebraska's Barron Miles Jr misses a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt and Wyatt Liewer run a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Omar Manning and Jamie Nance run a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Turner Corcoran and Nouredin Nouili run drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Elliot Brown fixes Samori Toure's jersey during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Matt Masker throws a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's John Goodwin and Travis Vokolek run drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Brock Bando, Cameron Jurgens, Trent Hixon and Brant Banks run drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Levi Falck catches a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Barron Miles Jr catches a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Will Nixon catches a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg throws a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Samori Toure catches a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Demariyon Houston runs a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Offensive line coordinator Greg Austin calls a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Scott Frost smiles during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Austin Jablonski catches a pass in the endzone during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Offensive line coordinator Greg Austin speaks to players during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Jaquez Yant runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Samori Toure runs a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Ryan Held hands the ball off to Zach Weinmaster during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Jaquez Yant runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Scott Frost talks to Elliot Brown during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Adrian Martinez runs drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Matt Masker runs drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Matt Masker runs drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Logan Smothers runs drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Samori Toure and Lane McCallum run drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Logan Smothers runs drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Mario Verduzco watches a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Jamie Nance runs a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Wyatt Liewer and Austin Jablonski run a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Scott Frost talks to Matt Masker during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Wyatt Liewer and John Bullock run drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Noa Pola-Gates and Trevin Lubin during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Ty Hahn catches a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Wyatt Liewer catches a low pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Omar Manning catches a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Zavier Betts dances to a song playing in the stadium during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Adrian Martinez throws a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Logan Smothers throws a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Austin Jablonski catches a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Memorial Stadium hosted 3,200 during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Jake Archer pats Markese Stepp's back during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Marvin Scott III runs a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Adrian Martinez receives a snap during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Scott Frost watches drills during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Adrian Martinez hands the ball off to Ronald Thompkins during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Logan Smothers hands the ball off to Jaquez Yant during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Logan Smothers receives a snap during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Jaquez Yant runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Jaquez Yant runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Marvin Scott III runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Matt Masker runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Matt Masker runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Matt Masker runs the ball during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraksa's Matt Masker throws a pass during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Omar Manning runs a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Matt Masker runs a drill during a spring open practice on Saturday.

Nebraska's Scott Frost walks the field during a spring open practice on Saturday.