Blake Gillikin is NFC Special Teams Player of October

Saints punter Blake Gillikin had a tremendous month, and he's finally getting recognized for it.

Saints punter Blake Gillikin has been named the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Month for October, as the NFL announced on Thursday morning. Gillikin becomes the first New Orleans punter to earn the honor since Thomas Morstead in September 2019, and also the first former Penn State Nittany Lion to win a Special Teams Player of the Month award.

Last month, Gillikin had an average of 49.6 yards on his 17 punts, resulting in a 45.5 yard net. He had a league-high 5 punts that landed inside the 10-yard line and 4 of those were inside the 5-yard line. 

He has been instrumental to the team's success all season, and should have won a Special Teams Weekly award after the game against Washington in Week 5, but this somewhat makes up for him being overlooked. 

Gillikin received a game ball following that game against Washington, and after the road win, he said, "I try to show up every week and do my job for the team. I'd love to not punt at all, because that means we're doing well. But to have that kind of game and also get a win is great."

What. A. Punt. #Saints

📺: #NOvsWAS on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WFX7akXgDm

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

His name is @blakegillikin and he’s your new favorite punter. #Saints

📺: #NOvsWAS on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/K8No9RS1ff

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

He's simply a player that puts a lot of time and effort into perfecting his craft, and will be key to what the Saints need to do churn out some wins with the remaining 10 games on the regular season schedule.

---

Read More Saints News

• A Closer Look at Saints QB Trevor Siemian
• First Look: Falcons vs. Saints
• Philip Rivers Would Listen If Saints Called
• Playing Out Options to Replace Jameis Winston
• Will the Saints Make a Deal Before the Trade Deadline?
• Saints Players & Staff React to Jameis Winston's Season-Ending Injury
• Game Balls From the Saints' Impressive 36-27 Win Over the Buccaneers
• Report: Saints QB Jameis Winston Has Torn ACL, MCL Damage
• Week 8 Saints Snap Counts and Observations
• Saints Report Card vs. Bucs - Week 8
• Watch: Winston 'Dances With Crutches' in Locker Room Celebration
• What Will the Saints Do Without Jameis Winston?
• Sean Payton Says Winston's Injury is 'Significant'
• Game Recap: Saints Drop Candy Corn in Bucs' Halloween Bucket