Blake Gillikin

Blake Gillikin's Biography

Blake Thomas Gillikin, professionally known as Blake Gillikin, has established himself an accomplished American football punter. He was born on January 21, 1998, and became popular while playing football at Penn State, before his entry into the prestigious National Football League (NFL).

Gillikin’s professional football career began when he was signed by the esteemed Arizona Cardinals. However, his journey originated from humble beginnings in Smyrna, Georgia, where his passion and skills in football developed and flourished. While at The Westminster Schools in Georgia, he played a pivotal role in leading his team to their first GHSA Football Class AAA Georgia State Championship since 1978. This triumph, which occurred in 2015, marked an imperative stage in Gillikin’s career. His potential was recognized by Kohl’s Kicking Camp, which rated him as a five-star punter and a five-star kicker.

Gillikin’s remarkable talent landed him a coveted spot at Penn State, where he served as a starter throughout his four years. His impressive performance includes a career punting average of 43.03. This accomplishment secured him the number 2 rank on Penn State’s career punting average charts. Remarkably, Gillikin managed to land 53 career punts downed within the opponent’s ten-yard line, breaking down to seven in 2016, 18 in 2017, 12 in 2018, and 15 in 2019. His unique achievement of executing seven punts of 65 or more yards marks him as the only player in the program’s history to claim such a feat. In the school’s net punting yards record, Gillikin secured the second position, with Jeremy Kapinos leading the list. By 2019, Gillikin averaged 42.2 yards per punt, a performance that saw him chosen for an honorable mention by the All-Big Ten Conference. Both conference coaches and media admired and recognized Gillikin’s talents. Adding to his list of accolades, Gillikin was selected for the CoSIDA Academic All-American first-team.

The promising sportsman’s professional career began with the New Orleans Saints, who signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020. However, he suffered a setback when placed on injured reserve on September 9, 2020. Despite the hiccup, Gillikin bounced back resiliently and was named the Saint’s starting punter for the 2021 season. This opportunity presented itself after the dismissal of the previous longtime starter, Thomas Morstead. After showcasing his exceptional skills and determination during that season, Gillikin became a free agent on March 15, 2023, as he did not receive a qualifying offer.

Interestingly, the very next day, Gillikin re-signed with the Saints, proving his dedication to the team. However, in a surprising turn of events, Gillikin was waived on August 29, 2023, after losing the punting battle to Lou Hedley. Undeterred by this momentary setback, Gillikin soon found his way back into the professional football league. On October 3, 2023, he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals, placing him once more into the frontlines of this professional sporting arena. His journey so far portrays a resilient player with a deep essence of dedication and a remarkably dynamic scope of achievement.