Blake Hayes
Football
Kinesiology

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 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.