LIBERTY, Mo. --- Tusculum punter Hunter Cantrell has been named the D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week.
Cantrell, a senior from Sparta, Tennessee, becomes the first Tusculum player to earn this honor since All-American punter John Gregory in 2009.
Cantrell averaged 43.1 yards per punt and pinned all eight of his punt attempts inside the 20-yard line in Saturday's 32-31 double-overtime win at defending South Atlantic Conference Champion Newberry. He was also named the SAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
Cantrell flipped field position several times as six of his eight punt attempts were also pinned inside the 10-yard line as Newberry's average field position started at its own 14-yard line. His eight punts inside the 20 are a new TC single-game record.
Cantrell broke the school record on Saturday with his 224 career punt attempts. His 8,799 punting yards are second in school history while his 39.28 career average is fourth in TC history. He leads the SAC this year averaging 41.7 yards per punt, which is 17th in the nation (NCAA Division II).
The Pioneers (4-3, 2-2 SAC) return home this weekend when they host Catawba for homecoming this Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field.