Florida Tech’s Kicker Kyle Gullikson Named Special Teams Player of the Week

By  //  November 10, 2015

Florida Tech punter/kicker Kyle Gullikson was tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week, and West Georgia running back Devontae Jackson is the Freshman of the Week. It is the first weekly honor for each player in their respective category. (Florida Tech Image).
Florida Tech punter/kicker Kyle Gullikson was tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week, and West Georgia running back Devontae Jackson is the Freshman of the Week. It is the first weekly honor for each player in their respective category. (Florida Tech Image).

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA (GSCSports.org) – Valdosta State running back Cedric O’Neal and Delta State defensive back Richard Nash have been named the Gulf South Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games played in Week 10 of the 2015 season.  

Florida Tech punter/kicker Kyle Gullikson was tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week, and West Georgia running back Devontae Jackson is the Freshman of the Week. It is the first weekly honor for each player in their respective category.

O’Neal rushed for 190 yards to become Valdosta State’s all-time rushing yards leader and third on the all-time GSC list with 3,907 yards.

He scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner in a 40-34 triple-overtime victory at Delta State. His 13 rushing touchdowns this season leads the GSC. The senior from Dublin, Georgia averaged 6.6 yards per carry and hauled in three receptions for 33 yards.

Kyle Gullikson

Nash, a senior from Macon, Georgia eclipsed the 200 tackles mark for his career in the loss against No. 23 Valdosta State. He recorded a career-high 19 tackles, the most by a GSC player this season, to lead the Statesmen defense on Senior Day.

Twelve of his tackles were solo stops and two were for a loss, combining for 14 yards. He also added an interception and pass deflection. The DSU defense held Valdosta to 195 yards passing, 34.4 yards below its per game average. Nash is now fifth in the GSC it total tackles with 72.

Gullikson helped lead Florida Tech to its sixth-consecutive win of the season in a 28-26 upset of No. 1 West Georgia. The freshman from Titusville, Florida punted four times for 187 yards (46.8 yards/punt), including a 66-yard punt to pin the Wolves inside the 20 at the 15-yard-line. All three of his kickoffs, a total of 195 yards, reached the end zone.

Jackson, who was named the Special Teams Player of the Week on Nov. 2, scored two second-half touchdowns to lead West Georgia’s rally against FIT. His two scores cut a once 28-12 deficit into a two-point game, 28-26 early in the fourth quarter. The Marietta, Georgia native led the Wolves’ ground attack with a career-high 167 yards on 21 carries.

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Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Devontae Jackson (West Georgia, RB); Justin McArthur (Delta State, RB); Trevor Sand (Florida Tech, RB); Lamonte Thompson (North Alabama, RB)

Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Dylan Donahue (West Georgia, DE); Kenny Moore (Valdosta State, DB); J.J. Sanders (Florida Tech, DE); Tyler Smith (North Alabama, DE)