Big Ten Release
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois punter Blake Hayes was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Hayes is Illinois' first Special Teams Player of the Week since David Reisner won the award Nov. 24, 2014 after hitting a game-winning 36-yard field goal with eight seconds left to beat Penn State.
Hayes dropped five punts inside the 20, including a 59-yard boot to the 2-yard line that set up a fumble and Illini score on the next play to give Illinois a 21-7 lead. He averaged 45.9 yards on eight punts against the Huskers.Â
Hayes upped his career punting average to 43.1 yards per punt, only 0.4 yards behind Steve Weatherford's Illinois career record set from 2002-05. Hayes' current season average of 45.4 yards per punt is tied with Weatherford for the best single-season in Illinois history.Â
