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Saints punter credits time at Penn State for big game in Week 5
By Nick Schultz
Published:
Blake Gillikin had some big punts for the New Orleans Saints against the Washington Football Team this week, pinning the Football Team inside the 5-yard line three times.
So what conference did he play in while in college? Easy: The B1G. That’s where great punters play, right?
Gillikin punted for Penn State from 2016-19, earning honorable mention All-B1G honors his senior year. The Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and he credited his time in the B1G for his success in the game.
Saints punter Blake Gillikin just credited his big game to his Big 10 background at Penn State: "You know, a punting conference, which is great."
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) October 10, 2021
The Saints beat the Washington Football Team 33-22 in Week 5 action on Sunday. But on a day when Saints quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 4 TDs, it was Gillikin who stole the show. He was given a game ball by coach Sean Payton, and Saints star running back Alvin Kamara said he’d never seen Payton praise a punter as much as he did Sunday afternoon.
Hey, it is a “punting conference,” after all.
Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.