14 DAYS TO 2016 KICKOFF: Nick Walsh

Goal No. 14: CONSISTENCY. Your very, very best every time.

Nickolas Kaden Walsh (b. April 29, 1994) is a former walk-on who has been the primary punter during the last two seasons. He will look to retain his duties as a junior, despite splitting snaps last season with Mitch Lochbihler.

Walsh enters 2016 with a career punting average of 41.48 yards, which ranks sixth in school history. In addition to earning a scholarship last year, he is a preseason candidate for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter.

After redshirting in 2013, Walsh saw time in 12 games in 2014, becoming the primary punter during the second game of the year and somewhat salvaging the season's special teams after Lochbihler's lackluster start.

Walsh averaged 41.3 yards on 44 punts, with nine traveling 50 yards or more and 15 landing inside the 20-yard line.

He recorded a career-best 49.2-yard average on four punts against UCLA in the Alamo Bowl, including two that traveled at least 50 yards. Walsh also had two 50-yard punts at Iowa State, had five punts land inside the 20-yard line at TCU and earned second-team Academic All-Big 12 accolades for his work in the classroom that season.

Last year, Walsh served as the primary punter throughout the entire season, averaging 41.6 yards per punt, with 10 going 50 or more yards and 15 landing inside the 20-yard line, on his way to honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.

He finished third in the Big 12 in average, which was given a boost over the final three games when he averaged 42.6 yards on 17 punts. He recorded a career-long 63-yard punt against TCU, the longest by a Wildcat in two years.

Walsh punted 11 times against West Virginia, one shy of the single-game school record. He had a season-high four punts land inside the 20-yard line at Texas Tech, while he had three apiece against TCU and Oklahoma.

He had a season-best 47.5-yard average on six attempts against Oklahoma State, and made touchdown-saving tackles against Louisiana Tech and Iowa State. He also earned 2015 preseason All-Big 12 honors from Athlon.

Walsh lettered under head coach Rod Stallbaumer at Lyndon High School, where he led the team to a league championship and a state playoff appearance. He picked up all-state honors from The Wichita Eagle and the Kansas Football Coaches Association as a punter after averaging 42.6 yards in 2010 and 38.1 yards in 2011.

He was named an all-state running back by The Topeka Capital-Journal and the Kansas Football Coaches Association after rushing for 1,330 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also participated in the 2012 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Walsh also lettered in basketball, baseball and golf, earning first-team all-state honors in basketball and baseball while placing in the top 20 at the state golf tournament as both a freshman and sophomore.