2025 Football Roster
Sep 20 (Sat)
7:30 p.m.
Brendan Franke
- Position:
- K
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-3 / 233
- Year:
- Redshirt Senior +
- Hometown:
- Gretna, Neb.
- High School:
- Gretna
- Prev School:
- Texas State
Career Notes & Records
Appeared in 50 career games ... Appeared in 12 games in one season at Texas State (2024) ... Made four appearances in one season at Georgia Southern (2023) and redshirted ... Played in 24 games over two seasons at Nebraska (2021-22) ... Saw time in nine games in one season at Morningside (Iowa) College (2020) ... Registered a career touchback rate of .711 (155-of-218).
2025 (Redshirt-Senior+ Season)
Season: Appeared in two games.
Old Dominion (8/30): All six kickoffs went for a touchback ... Attempted a 52-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and was no good. Kennesaw State (9/6): Each of his nine kickoffs went for a touchback.
2024 (Redshirt-Senior Season - Texas State
Season: Appeared in 12 games ... Did not participate in First Responders Bowl vs. North Texas (1/3) ... Served as the primary kickoff specialist ... Touchback percentage of .821 (64-of-78) ... Did not have a kickoff out of bounds. Only 10 kickoffs were returned ... Led Sun Belt in average opponents starting field position at 24.67, which ranked No. 14 nationally (min. 35 kickoffs).
Lamar (8/31): Hit seven kickoffs for an average 63.3 yards per kick ... Six kickoffs went for touchbacks. UTSA (9/7): Seven of eight kickoffs went for touchbacks ... Averaged 64.6 yards per kickoff. Arizona State (9/12): Hit five kickoffs for a 65.0 average ... Four of five kickoffs went for a touchback. vs. Sam Houston State (9/28): Averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff on six kicks ... Five of six kicks went for a touchback. at Troy (10/3): Six of seven kickoffs went for a touchback ... Averaged 64.9 yards per kickoff. Arkansas State (10/12): Averaged 64.8 yards per kikcoff on eight boots ... Seven kickoffs went for a touchback. at Old Dominion (10/19): Hit three kickoffs for a 62.7 average ... Two kickoffs went for a touchback. Louisiana-Lafayette (10/29): Averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff on five kicks ... All five kickoffs went for a touchback. at ULM (11/9): Seven kickoffs averaged 63.0 yards ... Five kicks went for a touchback. Southern Miss (11/16): Eight of nine kickoffs went for a touchback ... Averaged 64.4 yards per kickoff. Georgia State (11/23): Averaged 60.4 yards per kickoff ... Three of five kicks went for a touchback. at South Alabama (11/29): Six of eight kickoffs went for a touchback ... Averaged 63.9 yards per kickoff.
2023 (Senior Season - Georgia Southern)
Season: Appeared in four games ... Took over kickoff duties late in the season ... Touchback percentage of .529 (9-of-17) ... Successful on lone onside kick attempt.
The Citadel (9/2): Hit one kickoff for a touchback. at Marshall (11/11): Kicked off seven times for an average of 43.5 yards ... One kickoff went for a touchback. at Appalachian State (11/25): Averaged 62.5 yards on six kickoffs ... Five went for a touchbacks. vs. Ohio (12/16): Hit three kickoffs for a 64.3-yard average and two touchbacks ... Had a successful onside kick in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
2022 (Junior Season - Nebraska)
Season: Appeared in all 12 games ... Handled all kickoff duties ... Touchback percentage of .667 (36-of-54) ... Only 15 kickoffs were returned ... Missed lone field goal attempt.
vs. Northwestern (8/27): Hit four kickoffs for an average of 63.0 yards per kick ... Two kickoffs went for a touchback. North Dakota (9/3): Averaged 57.1 yards per kickoff on seven boots ... Five went for touchbacks. Georgia Southern (9/10): Five of seven kickoffs went for a touchback ... Averaged 64.6 yards per kickoff. Oklahoma (9/17): All three kickoffs went for a touchback for a 65.0-yard average. Indiana (10/1): Hit six kickoffs for a 64.5 average ... Five went for touchbacks. at Rutgers (10/7): Averaged 60.7 yards per kickoff on three boots ... Two went for touchbacks. at Purdue (10/15): Five of seven kickoffs went for a touchback ... Averaged 63.3 yard per kickoff. Illinois (10/29): All three kickoffs ended in a touchback for a 65.0-yard average. Minnesota (11/5): Averaged 63.5 yards per kickoff on four kicks ... Had one touchback. at Michigan (11/12): Hit two kickoffs for an average of 60.5 yards per kick. Wisconsin (11/19): All three kickoffs ended in a touchback for a 65.0-yard average. at Iowa (11/25): Averaged 63.6 yards per kickoff on five boots ... Two kickoffs ended in touchbacks.
2021 (Sophomore Season - Nebraska)
Season: Appeared in all 12 games ... Served as the primary kickoff specialist ... Touchback percentage of .613 (38-of-62) ... Had 18 kickoffs returned during the season.
at Illinois (8/28): Hit six kickoffs for an average of 62.0 yards per boot ... Four kickoffs went for a touchback. Fordham (9/4): All five kickoffs went for a touchback to average 65.0 yards per boot. Buffalo (9/11): Averaged 63.6 yards per kickoff on five kicks ... Three went for a touchback. at Oklahoma (9/18): Hit four kickoffs for an average of 62.0 yards per boot ... Had two touchbacks. at Michigan State (9/25): Averaged 63.0 yards per kickoff on five kicks ... Two kickoffs went for a touchback. Northwestern (10/2): Five of nine kickoffs went for a touchback ... Averaged 63.8 yards per kickoff on nine boots. Michigan (10/9): Hit five kickoffs for an average of 64.8 yards per kick ... Two went for a touchback. at Minnesota (10/16): Averaged 64.4 yards per kickoff on five boots ... Three went for touchbacks. Purdue (10/30): All four kickoffs went for a touchback to average 65.0 yards per boot. Ohio State (11/6): Hit four kickoffs for a 63.5-yard average ... Two went for touchbacks. at Wisconsin (11/20): Averaged 61.8 yards per kickoff on five boots ... Two went for touchbacks. Iowa (11/26): Four of five kickoffs went for a touchback ... Averaged 65.4 yards per kickoff.
2020 (Freshman Season - Morningside College)
Appeared in nine games ... Handled kickoff duties ... Secured touchbacks on 35-of-59 kickoffs ... Converted 3-of-4 point after touchdowns.
Prep/Personal
Did not play football at Gretna High School ... Starting goalkeeper for men’s soccer team ... Son of Krissy Simon and Jason Franke ... Stepfather is Dave Simon Has three siblings: Taylor Danley, Kortian Franke and Elisa Franke ... Born October 17, 2001.
