Bohlken Named National Special Teams Player of the Week

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State senior punter JT Bohlken was honored as a Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week for Week 10 games by the organization on Monday.

Bohlken was honored as the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and was honored alongside UIW's Cameron Ward (Offense), Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Andre Fuller (Defense) and Yale's David Pantelis (Freshman). In addition, UT Martin earned FCS National Team of the Week honors.

In a defensive battle that featured 22 total punts combined by the Redbirds and the No. 13 ranked UNI Panthers, Bohlken proved to be a huge weapon in the field position game for the 'Birds in their 17-10 overtime win. The senior from Jefferson City, Missouri, punted 12 times for a career-high 516 yards (43 yards per punt), placed four punts inside the UNI 20-yard line and uncorked two over 50 yards on the day. 

The 516 yards set a new Hancock Stadium record for a Redbird player and were the most in an MVFC contest as well. Bohlken also picked up a crucial first down for the Redbirds on a fake punt, running 21 yards to move the chains.

Bohlken and the Redbirds head to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to take on the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (4-5, 2-4 MVFC) for the first time in MVFC play. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Alerus Center.

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