Luke Akers Awarded Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Northwestern redshirt junior K/P Luke Akers has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Wildcats 37-10 win at Maryland last week. Serving as the placekicker, punter and kickoff specialist for the first time in his career, Akers went 3-for-3 on field goals, 4-for-4 on point after tries, while also punting five times for an average of 49.2 yards per punt with a long of 58 yards and two punts downed inside the 20.
 
He is the first kicker in the country since at least 1996 to convert 100% of FG attempts (min. 3 attempts), 100% of point after tries and average 49+ yards per punt while also attempting their first career field goal in the same game. He drilled a 43-yard field goal on his first career attempt, and later concerted two field goals of 38 yards.  As a punter, Akers pinned Maryland at the 1-yard line on a 56-yard punt in the third quarter, and in the fourth quarter had a 58-yard punt downed at the Maryland 15-yard line. As a kickoff specialist, he only had three of his five kickoffs returned for an average of just 18.3 yards per return.
 
Akers won his second Big Ten Specialist of the Week Award, and his first since 2022 when he punted six times for an average of 40.8 yards per kick in a win over Nebraska.
 
The Wildcats return home this week to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium to face Wisconsin at 11 a.m. CT. Tickets are available here.