Kyle Crooks, Nebraska's new radio voice, eager to immerse himself in all things Huskers

LINCOLN, Neb.

Nine weeks from Thursday, while inside the comfort of a radio booth at Arrowhead Stadium and set to call his first game as the voice of Nebraska football, Kyle Crooks expects that his thoughts might drift back to a wet and cold fall afternoon in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Crooks called games in 2016 for Division III Misericordia University, mixed with other broadcast gigs.

On that October Saturday, he worked solo, partially covered by a tent from a mix of wintry precipitation.

Advertisement The game got out of hand in favor of the Cougars opponent.

A student broadcaster seated nearby saw Crooks damp notes and chattering teeth and took pity, bringing him a cup of hot chocolate from the concession stand.

Crooks couldnt have positioned himself any further from one of the most high-profile jobs in college sports broadcasting than if hed sat at home in New Jersey, calling plays into a tape recorder as he watched a game on TV.

For the next two months, though, Crooks will prepare to sit in that seat as the replacement for Greg Sharpe.

The beloved Nebraska radio announcer of the past 18 years, Sharpe died in February at age 61 after a battle with cancer.

Its going to be a moment of reflection, Crooks said Wednesday.

Husker Nation, join us in welcoming Kyle Crooks as the next play-by-play voice of @HuskerFootball .

@CrooksPBP | https://t.co/chEeHnHqJC pic.twitter.com/UsSP139xV1 Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) June 23, 2025 Nebraska and Playfly, the multimedia company that owns the rights to broadcast the schools athletic events, introduced Crooks, 34, on Monday as the director of broadcasting for the Huskers Radio Network and the next in line to describe action on the football field.

Hell join Damon Benning in the booth and plans to ease into a role this summer as co-host of the networks nightly talk show.

Crooks spent the past seven years at Florida as a contributor to the broadcasts of several sports.

I can guarantee you Ill be overprepared for it, Crooks said of his debut on Aug.

28 as the Huskers face Cincinnati at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

I think that first quarter or that first series, youll probably hear a guy whos maybe too fired up.

But I need to be good for the memory of Greg.

I need to be good for Gregs family, for the fan base, for the people of this radio network who have put so much positive out there for me and for the Husker fans who have defended me.

I need to show them that it was worth it.

Advertisement Before Sharpe, icons of Nebraska broadcasting such as Kent Pavelka and Lyell Bremser sat in front of the microphone that Crooks will address.

His voice will echo across more than 50 affiliates of the HRN and play over highlights distributed via social media.

He said he recognized the weight of the job before accepting it and that he has been surprised this week by the overwhelming response from within the Nebraska market and the schools fans.

Its an unfortunate situation that this job is even open, Crooks said.

Youre stepping in for a person who is absolutely loved.

You do the research and you understand how much this fan base adored Greg and how much his teammates on the air loved and adored him.

People dont like change.

They love consistency.

And here comes this new guy from the SEC, relatively young for the position.

They have every reason not to like me and see me as an outsider and somebody whos never going to love Nebraska like they do.

Not the case, Crooks said.

Theyve taught me that its a smart fan base.

Born in 1991, he cant recite names from rosters of Nebraskas national championship teams.

He said he recognized a massive brand with a massive fan base when the job opening was posted this year.

Theres a big listenership, he said.

The radio announcers from years past are legends.

Its got a history.

Its got an infrastructure.

Its positioned well.

I just knew that I wanted to go to a place where people listen and people care.

Crooks said he leaned on Jeff Culhane, the Nebraska-raised voice of Florida State football, for insight into the landscape around Lincoln.

He has heard from everyone who played a role in his rise in the industry this week, including Ryan Radtke of Westwood One, Kevin Burkhardt of Fox, and Ian Eagle of CBS and Turner Sports.

Advertisement In watching Sean Kelley, the voice of Florida football, who in 2022 replaced a fixture in Mick Hubert, Crooks said he studied up on the blueprint of how to step in for an iconic figure.

You have to be you, he said.

You cant go into this trying to be like Greg.

Youre going to fail if thats the case.

But if you put in the work, the fans will come along.

Crooks said he plans to get settled in Nebraska early next month.

Hes already started research on the Huskers roster and coaching staff.

There are plenty of developments from this summer for Crooks and Nebraska fans to digest.

Heres a quick rundown: Recruiting adds steam.

Nebraska poured energy into recruiting for its next several classes during camps in the first three weeks of June.

It brought more than 20 official visitors to Lincoln, resulting in the commitments for the 2026 class of offensive linemen Rex Waterman of Chandler, Ariz., and Hayden Ainsworth of Biloxi, Miss., tight end Luke Sorensen of Anaheim, Calif., running back Jamal Rule of Charlotte, N.C., and cornerback Danny Odem of Orlando, Fla.

Theres likely more on the way before training camp opens in late July.

Dont get too caught up in numbers.

Nebraskas eight-member class ranks 79th nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite, after it finished No.

22 with 21 signees for the Class of 2025.

This group will be smaller, a result of the movement toward a 105-player roster limit required by the terms of the House settlement.

And coach Matt Rhule is betting that a jump on the field in 2025 will lead to some commitments closer to the December signing period.

Coaches break for a bit.

The start of a dead period on Monday signaled a shift in offseason activities.

Not needed on campus for recruiting purposes, Nebraska coaches are free to recharge for much of the next month.

For offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, that means travel and relaxation .

For others, its an opportunity to get ready for the grind of August .

For some coaches new to Nebraska, the summer break presents an opportunity to bond with their players.

#RockSolid Mindset #GBR #WhatsNext !!! pic.twitter.com/OS5pxiPIir Terry Bradden Jr (@CoachBradden) June 25, 2025 Coaches worked with the players for eight hours per week during the first three weeks of June in offseason training activities.

Those drills are done.

For the next five weeks, its on strength coach Corey Campbell to structure training and its up to the players to solidify leadership roles in organizing workouts.

Advertisement This period of the offseason, with accountability at the forefront, holds an important place in readying the Huskers for the season ahead.

Its never too early to ask questions .

Specifically, about the areas on this roster that appear vulnerable.

After Omaha Creighton Prep graduate CharMar Brown picked Miami over Nebraska as a running back transfer from North Dakota State, the Huskers made firm plans to enter camp next month with just one back who has played extensively in college.

Thats Emmett Johnson, whom Nebraska offensive coaches remain bullish about after he accumulated 884 yards from scrimmage last season as a sophomore.

Behind Johnson, Kwinten Ives, Mekhi Nelson and early enrolling freshmen Conor Booth and Jamarion Parker will battle for practice reps.

Weve got who weve got, Holgorsen said, and those guys just need to keep getting better.

Theyre all young.

They all have ability.

They just dont have game experience.

Is Holgorsen concerned? No, he said, but August is going to be big for them.

We feel really good about Emmett, Holgorsen said.

But thats just one.

Youre going to get to No.

2 quick.

Youre going to get to No.

3 pretty quick.

Youre probably going to get to No.

4.

(Photo: Steven Branscombe / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.