Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Blake Gillikin was born January 21, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a punter in the National Football League.

A four-year starter at Penn State, Gillikin is ranked No. 2 on Penn State's career punting average charts (43.03 avg.) He landed 53 career punts downed inside the opponent's ten-yard line (seven in 2016, 18 in 2017, 12 in 2018, 15 in 2019) and is the only player in program history with seven punts of 65 or more yards. Gillikin is second all-time in net punting yards in school history behind Jeremy Kapinos. In 2019, Gillikin averaged 42.2 yards per punt as was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the conference coaches and media. Was also selected for the CoSIDA Academic All-American first team. Gillikin signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020. 

Gillikin was named the Saints starting punter for the 2021 season after the team released longtime starter Thomas Morstead in the offseason.

Gillikin did not receive a qualifying offer following the 2022 season and became a free agent on March 15, 2023. On March 16, Gillikin re-signed with the New Orleans Saints.