Former Penn State star and current New Orleans Saints punter Blake Gillikin has been named October’s NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

In four games in October, Gillikin punted 17 times and landed 10 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, posting an average of 45.5 yards per punt. He owned the conference’s top three punts in October.

Congrats to @blakegillikin: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month pic.twitter.com/3SrlFQ6GHh

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 4, 2021

Gillikin is the first Saints player to be named a Player of the Month since defensive end Cameron Jordan won the award in November of 2020. Gillikin is the first Saints punter ever to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

During his time at Penn State, Gillikin was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance on October 12, 2019 against Iowa. Gillikin is the first Nittany Lion to win an NFL Player of the Month this season and the first since December of 2013 when NaVorro Bowman took home Defensive Player of the Month honors in the NFC.

Gillikin was named the Saints starting punter earlier this year following a strong offseason training camp and preseason. Through seven games, the 23-year-old first-year starter has punted a total of 30 times for just under 1,500 total yards. His longest punt of the season went for 63 yards on Halloween in a 36-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The young punter has been one of the most consistent players on a New Orleans Saints team that enters November with a 5-2 record and sole possession of the first wild card spot in the NFC.

Gillikin and the Saints will aim to carry their strong play into November when the Saints host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at 1 p.m.