Big Ten Release | Big Ten Awards (Part 1) | All-Big Ten (Def & ST)
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Illinois junior punter Blake Hayes was named the Big Ten's Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, the conference announced Tuesday on Big Ten Network. The award is named for Illinois' Dike Eddleman and Michigan State's Brandon Fields. In addition, Hayes was voted All-Big Ten first team by the league's coaches and media.
Hayes had one of the best seasons in Illinois history:
» 44.8 yards/punt this season, #2 in Illini history (45.4 by Steve Weatherford in 2004)
» #2 in the Big Ten and #18 in the nation in punting average
» 28 punts inside the 20, most in a season in Illini history
» Only two touchbacks on the season, tied for the fewest in a season in Illini history
» 20 50+-yard punts, tied for most in a season in Illini history
» 13 punts inside the 10, including six downed on the 1- or 2-yard lines
Hayes becomes the second Illini to win one of the 11 Big Ten position awards, which were created in 2011 to coincide with the first Big Ten Championship game. Last season, kicker Chase McLaughlin took home Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year honors. McLaughlin was the first Illini to win a major Big Ten award since 2007 when Rashard Mendenhall (Offensive Player of the Year), Arrelious Benn (Freshman of the Year) and Ron Zook (Coach of the Year) all took home major conference honor.
Hayes is first Illini punter to earn First-Team All-Big Ten honors since Anthony Santella was a first-team honoree by the coaches in 2010.
