Anyone watching the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday will note a familiar last name doing the kicking.
Northwestern’s regular kicker, Jack Olsen, will miss Friday’s game against Maryland due to a lower body injury, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. As a result, Luke Akers, who is the son of longtime Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers, will handle kicking duties.
Source: Northwestern will be without K Jack Olsen, who is week-to-week with a lower body injury, tonight at Maryland. Luke Akers, the son of NFL K David Akers, will handle kicking and punting duties for the Wildcats. pic.twitter.com/QoAXKttIr0
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 11, 2024
The younger Akers is Northwestern’s punter and also handles kickoff duties. Until now, however, he has yet to actually handle place-kicking duties. The senior is in his third year with the Wildcats, having transferred in from UCLA following the 2021 season.
David Akers is a six-time Pro Bowl selection who is still best remembered for his time with the Eagles. He converted on a 63-yard field goal in 2012, which at the time was tied for the longest made field goal in NFL history.
