NOLA Saints: Blake Gillikin is the star of Day 7 of training camp
Early on into the seventh day of training camp, New Orleans Saints punter Blake Gillikin stole the show.
Gillikin, who the Saints signed last year and kept him stashed on their roster last year because they were waiting for this very moment. After parting ways with long-time punter Thomas Morstead, the Saints knew that Gillikin would be the favorite to win the punting job and he’s showing why.
All of the Saints reporters were in awe of the former Penn State punter for the clinic he put on during Thursday’s practice.
We already knew this but Blake Gillikin can boom punts down the field. The guy is talented.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) August 5, 2021
Blake Gillikin looking very sharp out here today in the wind. I clocked the hang time on his last two punts as 5.29 & 4.8 seconds. #SaintsCamp
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) August 5, 2021
Gillikin just hung a punt for 5.31 seconds. I think we can declare him the front runner
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 5, 2021
I thought this punt was never going to land. https://t.co/7NiSMakQbK
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) August 5, 2021
Blake Gillikin is the star of the NOLA Saints training camp.
Gillikin entered training camp competing with former Syracuse punter Noolan Cooney, but most people knew Gillikin would win the job barring something unusual. He’s showing why now and those were just a few of the tweets that were in awe of the Penn State product and his abilities.
The Saints’ special teams will have a different look this year with Morstead no longer handling the punting duties but Gillikin has talent and he could be the next Morstead for the Saints. There’s a good chance that the 23-year-old punter stakes his claim on the punting job and New Orleans doesn’t have to dip back into the punting well for quite some time.
Special teams is a huge aspect for the Saints and it was important for them to find a punter capable of filling Morstead’s shoes. Gillikin is hopefully going to be someone who can do just that.
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It’s only one day of practice but with how in awe everyone was of Gillikin, it feels like this position battle might be over already.