Blake Gillikin: Leading The Saints' Special Teams To Success

Who is Blake Gillikin?

Blake Gillikin is an American football punter for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State.

Gillikin was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Marist School in Atlanta, where he played football and soccer. He was a consensus All-American as a senior in 2015.

Gillikin committed to play college football at Penn State. He was a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions. He was named the Big Ten Punter of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

Gillikin was drafted by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has been the Saints' punter since 2021.

Gillikin is one of the most accurate punters in the NFL. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career.

Gillikin is also a very good holder for field goals and extra points. He has never had a snap go over his head, and he has never had a field goal or extra point blocked.

Gillikin is a valuable member of the Saints' special teams unit. He is a consistent and reliable punter, and he is also a very good holder.

Blake Gillikin Saints

Blake Gillikin is an American football punter for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State.

Key Aspects:

• Punter
• New Orleans Saints
• Penn State
• Accuracy
• Consistency
• Reliability
• Special teams

Gillikin is one of the most accurate punters in the NFL. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career. He is also a very good holder for field goals and extra points. He has never had a snap go over his head, and he has never had a field goal or extra point blocked.

Gillikin is a valuable member of the Saints' special teams unit. He is a consistent and reliable punter, and he is also a very good holder. He is a key part of the Saints' success on special teams.

1. Punter

A punter is a player in American football who kicks the ball to the opposing team after his team has failed to score a touchdown or field goal. The punter's goal is to kick the ball as far down the field as possible, giving his team good field position and making it difficult for the opposing team to score.

• Accuracy: A punter's accuracy is important because it determines how far down the field the ball will travel. A punter who is consistently accurate will give his team a better chance of winning.
• Distance: A punter's distance is also important because it determines how much field position his team will gain. A punter who can kick the ball a long distance will give his team a better chance of scoring.
• Hang time: Hang time is the amount of time the ball spends in the air before it hits the ground. A punter who can generate a lot of hang time will give his team more time to cover the ball and prevent the opposing team from returning it.
• Consistency: A punter's consistency is important because it determines how reliable he is. A punter who is consistent will give his team confidence that he can make the big kicks when they need him to.

Blake Gillikin is one of the most consistent and accurate punters in the NFL. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career. Gillikin is also a very good holder for field goals and extra points. He has never had a snap go over his head, and he has never had a field goal or extra point blocked.

Gillikin is a valuable member of the Saints' special teams unit. He is a consistent and reliable punter, and he is also a very good holder. He is a key part of the Saints' success on special teams.

2. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division.

Blake Gillikin's Connection to the New Orleans Saints

• Punter: Blake Gillikin is the punter for the New Orleans Saints. He is responsible for kicking the ball to the opposing team after the Saints have failed to score a touchdown or field goal.
• Special teams: Gillikin is a key member of the Saints' special teams unit. Special teams are responsible for kicking, punting, and returning kicks and punts.
• Consistency: Gillikin is one of the most consistent punters in the NFL. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career.
• Accuracy: Gillikin is also a very accurate punter. He consistently places the ball where he wants it, which gives the Saints good field position and makes it difficult for the opposing team to return the ball.

Gillikin is a valuable member of the Saints. He is a consistent and accurate punter, and he is also a very good holder for field goals and extra points. He is a key part of the Saints' success on special teams.

3. Penn State

Penn State University is a public research university in University Park, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania and became a land-grant college in 1863. Today, Penn State is a major research university with a global reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and public service.

• Alma Mater: Blake Gillikin played college football at Penn State. He was a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions and was named the Big Ten Punter of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
• Development: Penn State helped Gillikin develop his skills as a punter. He was coached by Joe Lorig, one of the most respected special teams coaches in the country. Lorig helped Gillikin improve his accuracy, distance, and hang time.
• Preparation: Penn State prepared Gillikin for the NFL. He played in front of large crowds in a major conference. He also faced some of the best competition in the country. This experience helped him prepare for the challenges of playing in the NFL.
• Legacy: Gillikin is one of the most successful punters in Penn State history. He holds the school record for career punting average (46.6 yards per punt). He is also one of only two Penn State punters to be named a first-team All-American.

Penn State played a major role in Gillikin's development as a punter. He received a great education and was coached by one of the best special teams coaches in the country. He also played in front of large crowds and faced some of the best competition in the country. This experience helped him prepare for the challenges of playing in the NFL.

4. Accuracy

Accuracy is one of the most important qualities for a punter. It determines how consistently the punter can place the ball where he wants it. A punter with good accuracy can give his team a significant advantage in field position. Blake Gillikin is one of the most accurate punters in the NFL. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career.

• Distance: Gillikin's accuracy allows him to consistently kick the ball a long distance. He has one of the highest punting averages in the NFL. This gives the Saints good field position and makes it difficult for the opposing team to return the ball.
• Field position: Gillikin's accuracy also allows him to place the ball in specific areas of the field. He can kick the ball to the sideline, the end zone, or even out of bounds. This gives the Saints a lot of flexibility on special teams.
• Hang time: Gillikin's accuracy also helps him generate hang time on his punts. Hang time is the amount of time the ball spends in the air before it hits the ground. More hang time gives the Saints more time to cover the ball and prevent the opposing team from returning it.
• Consistency: Gillikin is one of the most consistent punters in the NFL. He is able to perform at a high level week in and week out. This consistency is invaluable to the Saints. It gives them confidence that they can count on Gillikin to make big kicks when they need him to.

Gillikin's accuracy is a major asset to the Saints. It gives them a significant advantage on special teams. He is one of the best punters in the NFL, and he is a key part of the Saints' success.

5. Consistency

Consistency is one of the most important qualities for a punter. It determines how consistently the punter can place the ball where he wants it. A punter with good consistency can give his team a significant advantage in field position. Blake Gillikin is one of the most consistent punters in the NFL. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career.

Gillikin's consistency is due to a number of factors. First, he has a very good understanding of his own abilities. He knows how far he can kick the ball, and he knows where he can place it. This allows him to make quick decisions and execute his kicks with precision.

Second, Gillikin has a very good work ethic. He is always practicing his craft, and he is always looking for ways to improve. This dedication has paid off, as he is now one of the most consistent punters in the NFL.

Gillikin's consistency is a major asset to the Saints. It gives them a significant advantage on special teams. He is one of the best punters in the NFL, and he is a key part of the Saints' success.

Here are some examples of how Gillikin's consistency has helped the Saints:

• In a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, Gillikin punted the ball six times for an average of 48.2 yards per punt. This helped the Saints win the game 36-27.
• In a game against the Green Bay Packers in 2022, Gillikin punted the ball five times for an average of 47.4 yards per punt. This helped the Saints win the game 38-3.

Gillikin's consistency is a key reason why the Saints have been so successful in recent years. He is a valuable member of the team, and he is one of the best punters in the NFL.

6. Reliability

Reliability is one of the most important qualities for a punter. It determines how consistently the punter can perform at a high level. A reliable punter can give his team confidence that he will make the big kicks when they need him to.

Blake Gillikin is one of the most reliable punters in the NFL. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career. Gillikin is also very consistent, as evidenced by his ability to perform at a high level week in and week out.

Gillikin's reliability is due to a number of factors. First, he has a very good understanding of his own abilities. He knows how far he can kick the ball, and he knows where he can place it. This allows him to make quick decisions and execute his kicks with precision.

Second, Gillikin has a very good work ethic. He is always practicing his craft, and he is always looking for ways to improve. This dedication has paid off, as he is now one of the most reliable punters in the NFL.

Gillikin's reliability is a major asset to the Saints. It gives them confidence that they can count on him to make big kicks when they need him to. This is especially important in close games, when a single punt can make the difference between winning and losing.

Here are some examples of how Gillikin's reliability has helped the Saints:

• In a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, Gillikin punted the ball six times for an average of 48.2 yards per punt. This helped the Saints win the game 36-27.
• In a game against the Green Bay Packers in 2022, Gillikin punted the ball five times for an average of 47.4 yards per punt. This helped the Saints win the game 38-3.

Gillikin's reliability is a key reason why the Saints have been so successful in recent years. He is a valuable member of the team, and he is one of the best punters in the NFL.

7. Special teams

Special teams are an essential part of American football. They are responsible for kicking, punting, and returning kicks and punts. Special teams can make a big difference in a game, as they can provide field position, score points, and even win games.

• Kicking: Kicking is a crucial part of special teams. The kicker's job is to score points by kicking field goals and extra points. Kickers must be accurate and consistent in order to be successful.
• Punting: Punting is another important part of special teams. The punter's job is to kick the ball away to the opposing team after his team has failed to score a touchdown or field goal. Punters must be able to kick the ball a long distance and with good hang time.
• Kick returning: Kick returning is a dangerous but exciting part of special teams. The kick returner's job is to catch the ball after it has been kicked off or punted and return it as far as possible. Kick returners must be fast, agile, and have good vision.
• Punt returning: Punt returning is similar to kick returning, but it is generally considered to be more dangerous. The punt returner's job is to catch the ball after it has been punted and return it as far as possible. Punt returners must be fast, agile, and have good hands.

Blake Gillikin is a punter for the New Orleans Saints. He is one of the most accurate and consistent punters in the NFL. Gillikin's punting ability has been a major asset to the Saints, as he has helped them win many games.

FAQs about Blake Gillikin Saints

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Blake Gillikin, the punter for the New Orleans Saints.

Question 1: What are Blake Gillikin's strengths as a punter?

Blake Gillikin is known for his accuracy, consistency, and ability to generate hang time on his punts. He has a career average of 46.6 yards per punt, and he has only had one punt blocked in his career.

Question 2: How has Blake Gillikin contributed to the success of the New Orleans Saints?

Blake Gillikin's punting ability has been a major asset to the New Orleans Saints. He has helped the Saints win many games by giving them good field position and preventing the opposing team from returning punts.

Question 3: What are some of Blake Gillikin's most notable accomplishments?

Blake Gillikin was named the Big Ten Punter of the Year in 2018 and 2019 while playing for Penn State. He also holds the Penn State record for career punting average (46.6 yards per punt).

Question 4: What is Blake Gillikin's contract status with the New Orleans Saints?

Blake Gillikin signed a four-year, $4.7 million contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2020. He is set to become a free agent in 2024.

Question 5: What are the expectations for Blake Gillikin in the upcoming season?

Blake Gillikin is expected to continue to be a key contributor to the New Orleans Saints in the upcoming season. He will be counted on to provide the Saints with good field position and prevent the opposing team from returning punts.

In conclusion, Blake Gillikin is a valuable member of the New Orleans Saints. He is one of the best punters in the NFL, and he has been a major contributor to the Saints' success in recent years.

Transition to the next article section: Read more about Blake Gillikin's journey to the NFL and his impact on the New Orleans Saints in the following article.

Conclusion

Blake Gillikin is one of the most talented and consistent punters in the NFL. He has been a major contributor to the success of the New Orleans Saints in recent years. Gillikin's accuracy, consistency, and ability to generate hang time on his punts have been invaluable to the Saints.

Gillikin is a key member of the Saints' special teams unit. He is a valuable asset to the team, and he is one of the best punters in the NFL. The Saints are fortunate to have him on their team.