Bret Bielema, Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Football
Bret Bielema, Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Football
Illinois senior Hank Beatty has been named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, according to an announcement from the conference office on Monday.
Beatty set a new Illinois single-game punt return yardage record with 133 yards on four returns during Friday's 52-3 victory over Western Illinois. This performance surpassed the previous record of 125 yards set by Red Grange in 1923 against Nebraska.
His game included a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, marking Illinois' first punt return touchdown since 2013. The 69-yard return was also the longest for Illinois since Christian Morton’s 80-yarder against Indiana on November 4, 2000. Beatty currently leads the nation in punt return yardage and ranks third nationally in punt return average at 33.25 yards per attempt.
In addition to his special teams contributions, Beatty recorded five receptions for 108 yards, achieving his first career game with over 100 receiving yards. He led all players nationwide in all-purpose yards during Week 1.
Illinois will play its next game Saturday at Duke, with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
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