Report: Former Penn State Punter Blake Gillikin Wins Starting Job With New Orleans Saints
Blake Gillikin may have just caught his big break in the NFL.
The former Penn State star is the only punter left on the New Orleans Saints’ roster after the team waived rookie prospect Nolan Cooney on Tuesday, according to The Saints Wire.
Gillikin entered training camp competing with Cooney for the starting spot after the Saints parted ways with long-time punter Thomas Morstead. Now, it appears that Gillikin has won the battle after an impressive start to the preseason. Averaging 47 yards per punt with two going over 60 yards in his first two preseason games, Gillikin seems ready to showcase his skills in the NFL.
The Atlanta native signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 NFL Draft. As one of Penn State’s most talented players throughout his four years with the program, Gillikin finished his career tied for second all-time for average punting yards with 43.03. He’s the only player in program history to record seven punts of 65 or more yards.
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