Hutton Receives Big 12 Player of the Week Honors
(This article was generated by Oklahoma State Athletics Media Relations and added to by Pokes Report.)
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State punter Tom Hutton was named the Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance against Kansas State Saturday, it was announced Monday by the conference.
Hutton punted a career-high eight times in OSU's 20-18 win at K-State, playing an integral role in field position throughout the game. Three of his punts were downed inside the K-State 20, and a fourth nearly missed as it touched the goal line in the form of one of the officials and had to be reviewed before call, by the official it hit, of a touchback stood.
Only one of Hutton's eight attempts was able to be returned by the Wildcats, as his spot punting forced fair catches or was targeted out-of-bounds. K-State's average field position following Hutton's punts was its own 23.5 yard line.
Going into the game Kansas State led the Big 12 with a 23.5-yards punt return average. However, because of Hutton's directional accuracy and hang time, Kansas State had just the one return for 10-yards.
On two punts during the decisive fourth quarter, Hutton forced KSU fair catches at its own 25 and own 15. With under two minutes remaining in the game and the Cowboys leading 20-18, Hutton punted under pressure and forced a fair catch at the KSU 25. The next play resulted in a Cowboy interception that sealed the win.
Some Oklahoma State fans have exhibited frustration with Hutton as he does not kill the ball and kick a lot of 50-yard plus punts. However, his 40.6-yards average and the ability of the cover unit to know with certainty where the punt will be has combined for fourth in the conference in net punting at 38.3-yards. Kansas State leads at 39.5-yards a punt.
"Tom is so accurate with his kicks and we know exactly where to go," said Malcolm Rodriguez, who has been on the punt unit. "That is a big advantage."
The honor marks the first of the season for Hutton. It is the sixth conference player of the week honor for Oklahoma State this season.
