NFL CAREER –The former Penn State standout took over the punting duties in 2021, proving to be a valuable weapon with his strong leg and directional kicking abilities. In his first season, punted 83 times for 3,956 yards (47.7 gross), a 42.0 net average and 29-pinned inside-the-20. Gillikin finished the season ranked fourth in the NFL in punts inside the 20-yard line (29), while holding for all field goal and extra point attempts.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Placed on Injured Reserve by Saints, 9/9/20; Agreed to terms, 4/2/20.
HONORS – 2021: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month (October).
2021 – Played in all 17 games and punted 83 times for 3,956 yards (47.7 gross), a 42.0 net average and 29-downed inside-the-20 and held for all field goal and PAT attempts. 29 downed inside-the-20 tied franchise record (Thomas Morstead, 2019)…Vs. Green Bay, Sept. 12, made his NFL debut and punted twice for 103 yards (51.5 gross punting average and 43.0 net) with one downed on the Green Bay five-yard line…Punted six times for 294 yards (49.0 gross punting average and 45.0 net) with a career-long 60 yard punt with one downed inside the twenty-yard line, at Carolina, Sept. 19...At New England, Sept. 26, punted five times for 249 yards (49.8 gross punting average, 39.8 net) with a long of 56… Punted three times for 132 yards (44.0 gross average, 35.3 net) with a long of 55 and two downed inside the 20 yard-line, vs. N.Y. Giants, Oct. 3…At Washington, Oct. 10, punted five times for 268 yards (53.6 gross average, 51.6 net) with a long of 60. Gillikin had three punts downed inside the five-yard line…At Seattle, Oct. 25, punted six times for 285 yards (47.5 gross average, 44.3 net) with a long of 58 yards. Had four punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Also had one punt downed at the one…Punted three times for 158 yards (52.7 gross, 48.0 net) with a career-long of 63 and one downed inside the 20-yard line, vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 31. Selected as NFC Special Teams Player of the Month (October)…Vs. Atlanta, Nov. 7, punted three times for 122 yards (40.7 gross, 34.0 net) with a long of 45 and one downed inside the 20-yard line…Punted five times for 202 yards (40.4 gross average, 34.6 net) with a long of 43 and one downed inside the 20-yard line, at Tennessee, Nov. 14…At Philadelphia, Nov. 21, punted six times for 299 yards (49.8 average, 42.7 net) with a long of 62 and three downed inside the 20 yard-line, including two downed inside the five…Punted five times for 235 yards (47.0 gross average, 37.2 net) with a long of 53 yards, vs. Buffalo, Nov. 25...Vs. Dallas, Dec. 2, punted six times for 308 yards (51.3 gross average, 44.0 net) with a long of 62 yards and one downed inside the 20-yard line…Punted five times for 258 yards (51.6 gross average, 42.8 net) with a long of 62 yards and one downed inside the 20-yard line, at N.Y. Jets, Dec. 12…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 19, punted a career-high nine times for 412 yards (45.8 gross average, 41.2 net) with a long of 58 yards. Gillikin also downed four punts inside the 20-yard line, tying career-high…Punted seven times for 316 yards (45.1 gross average, 43.9 net) with a long of 54 yards, vs. Miami, Dec. 27. Gillikin also downed two punts inside the 20-yard line…Vs. Carolina, 1/2/22, punted five times for 215 yards (43.0 gross, 39.0 net) with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line and only one touchback. Gillikin also tied his career-long punt of 63 yards…At Atlanta, 1/9/22, punted twice for 100 yards (50.0 gross average, 44.0 net) with a long of 52 yards and one punt downed inside the 20-yard line. 2020 - Spent the regular season and postseason on Injured Reserve.
COLLEGE – Tied for second on Penn State's career gross punting average charts (43.03 ypp.)…Landed 53 career punts inside the opponent's ten-yard line (seven in 2016, 18 in 2017, 12 in 2018, 15 in 2019) and the only player in program history with seven punts of 65 or more yards…In 2019, special teams captain averaged 42.2 yards per punt as he was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media and a CoSIDA Academic All-American first team for second consecutive year...In 2018, played in all 13 games, averaging 44.0 yards per punt, second in Big Ten and 22nd in nation...In 2017, earned consensus second-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media), averaging 43.2 yards per punt....In 2016, selected ESPN.comTrue Freshman All-America...Named Campus InsidersFreshman All-America honorable mention...Named to the ESPN.comBig Ten All-Bowl Team...Earned All-Big Ten honorable mention (conference coaches and media)...Named to BTN.com and ESPN.com All-Big Ten Freshman Team, ranked third in Big Ten with a 42.8 gross punting average...Kinesiology Major.
PERSONAL – Three-time letterman at Westminster (Atlanta, Ga.) School, helping them to first Class AAA Georgia State Championship since 1978 by kicking three field goals, including a 53-yard boot, and two punts of 60 yards in final. Had school record 56-yard field goal…Kohl's Pro Camp five-star punter and kicker...Atlanta Journal-Constitution first-team South Fulton All-Metro and first-team All-Metro as a senior…Averaged 45.2 yards per punt and 19 downed inside the 20 as senior, 54-for-54 on PATs and 16-of-26 on field goals...Four-year soccer and two-year basketball letterman...Helped Wildcats to 2013 Class AA Soccer Championship and to 2014 runner-up finish...Mother, Taryn, swam at Kansas...Father, Walt, swam at North Carolina...Twin brother, Tyler, handled long snapping duties at Northwestern from 2017-20…Blake Thomas Gillikin was born January 21, 1998 in Atlanta, Ga.
