Blake Gillikin

Last updated

Blake Gillikin
WFT vs. Saints (51582986153) (cropped).jpg
Gillikin with the Saints in 2021
No. 12 – Arizona Cardinals
Position: Punter
Personal information
Born: (1998-01-21) January 21, 1998 (age 26)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school: The Westminster Schools (Atlanta, Georgia)
College: Penn State (2016–2019)
Undrafted: 2020
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 9, 2024
Punts:240
Punting yards:11,539
Average punt:48.1
Longest punt:77
Inside 20:85
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Blake Thomas Gillikin (born January 21, 1998) is an American professional football punter for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State.

Contents

Early life

A former resident of Smyrna, Georgia, Gillikin helped lead The Westminster Schools to its first GHSA Football Class AAA Georgia State Championship since 1978 in 2015, and was rated as a five-star punter and a five-star kicker by Kohl's Kicking Camp.

College career

A four-year starter at Penn State, Gillikin is ranked No. 2 on Penn State's career punting average charts (43.03 avg.) He landed 53 career punts downed inside the opponent's ten-yard line (seven in 2016, 18 in 2017, 12 in 2018, 15 in 2019) and is the only player in program history with seven punts of 65 or more yards. Gillikin is second all time in net punting yards in school history behind Jeremy Kapinos. In 2019, Gillikin averaged 42.2 yards per punt as was selected All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention by the conference coaches and media. Was also selected for the CoSIDA Academic All-American first-team. [1]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)
200 lb
(91 kg)
Values from Pro Day [2]

New Orleans Saints

Gillikin signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020. [3] He was placed on injured reserve on September 9, 2020. [4]

Gillikin was named the Saints starting punter for the 2021 season after the team released longtime starter Thomas Morstead in the offseason. [5]

Gillikin did not receive a qualifying offer following the 2022 season and became a free agent on March 15, 2023. [6] On March 16, Gillikin re-signed with the Saints. [7] He was waived on August 29, 2023, after losing the punting battle to Lou Hedley. [8]

Arizona Cardinals

On October 3, 2023, Gillikin was signed by the Arizona Cardinals. [9]

In Week 9 of the 2024 season, Gillikin punted four times with three inside the 20-yard line in a 29-9 win over the Chicago Bears, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. [10]

Related Research Articles

Skyler Levon Green is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints. He also was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, earning All-American honors.

Robert Herber Parsons was an American professional football punter and tight end who played twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Chicago Bears from 1972 to 1983 and later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Morstead</span> American football player (born 1986)

Thomas James Morstead is an American professional football punter for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. Morstead has also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Hodges</span> American football player (born 1991)

Gerald Davon Hodges Jr. is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Penn State. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, 120th overall, of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hogan (American football)</span> American football and lacrosse player (born 1988)

Christopher James Hogan is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football for the Monmouth Hawks following three years of college lacrosse with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Hogan was a member of five NFL teams, most notably the New England Patriots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taysom Hill</span> American football player (born 1990)

Taysom Shawn Hill is an American professional football utility player for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He is officially designated as a tight end. He played college football at BYU and joined the Saints in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. Hill was listed as a quarterback on the Saints depth chart during his first five seasons, though he took snaps at seven different positions. Hill was designated as a tight end beginning in 2022 before once again being listed as a quarterback in 2023. He has maintained similar roles on offense and special teams throughout his career, including as the Saints primary gunner. Hill's array of utilization has earned him a reputation as a unique player in the NFL. Due to his versatility, he is known as "The Human Swiss Army Knife" by Saints' media.

Kevin Romone White Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, earning first-team All-American honors in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse James (tight end)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jesse Dylan James is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Penn State, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Breaston</span> American football player (born 1983)

Steven William Breaston is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at the University of Michigan and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tanner McEvoy is a former American football player. He played primarily as a wide receiver, but also spent time playing quarterback and safety. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin, Arizona Western College, and the University of South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trace McSorley</span> American football player (born 1995)

Richard Thomas "Trace" McSorley III is an American professional football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, where he holds school records in single-season passing yards and touchdowns and career total yards. McSorley was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Apke</span> American football player (born 1995)

Troy Steven Apke is an American former professional football safety and cornerback. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers player Steve Apke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Scott (American football)</span> American football player (born 1995)

Nicholas Michael Scott is an American professional football safety for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Chisena</span> American football player (born 1997)

Dan Chisena is an American professional football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Tony Jones Jr. is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juwan Johnson</span> American football player (born 1996)

Juwan Johnson is an American professional football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and Oregon and signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michal Menet</span> American football player (born 1997)

Michal James Menet is an American football center who is a free agent. He played college football at Penn State and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Rashid Shaheed is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Weber State Wildcats and signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Nolan Joseph Cooney is an American professional football punter who is a free agent. He played college football at Syracuse and has been a member of the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts.

Patrick Joseph Mustipher is an American professional football nose tackle for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State.

References

  1. "Penn State Football". Penn State Nittany Lions Athletics. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  2. "2020 NFL Draft Scout Blake Gillikin College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  3. "Blake Gillikin". New Orleans Saints. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  4. Williams, Charean (September 9, 2020). "Saints place backup punter on injured reserve". NBCSports.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  5. Sigler, John (August 24, 2021). "Blake Gillikin, Thomas Morstead's former understudy, wins Saints punter competition". Saints Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  6. "Saints make a surprising decision at the beginning of free agency". atozsports.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  7. Camer, Jonny (March 16, 2023). "Saints re-sign P Blake Gillikin competition". Canal Street Chronicles. SBNation.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 29, 2023.
  9. Urban, Darren (October 3, 2023). "Cardinals Make Roster Change At Punter". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  10. Gordon, Grant (November 6, 2024). "Jets WR Garrett Wilson, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.