Gillikin’s 2018 success shouldn’t come as a surprise. As a sophomore last season, the Georgia native was one of the nation’s most effective punters. Bolstered by 18 punts downed inside the 10-yard line, Gillikin boasted the fourth-best coffin wedge average (89.84) in college football, according to GPR Punt Rating, which likens itself to a QB rating for punters. He also stood out in another recently created statistic.
Florida Atlantic University’s college of business tracks a new punting stat called “boom rating” — which takes net yards per kick, line of scrimmage and proximity to each end zone, among other factors, into consideration. In 2017, Gillikin’s rating ranked fifth in the country behind Texas’ Michael Dickson, Texas A&M’s Shane Tripucka, Alabama’s JK Scott and Georgia’s Cam Nizialek. Dickson and Scott are now starting for the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, respectively.
Gillikin has shown up on the “boom rating” radar this year, too. He had the third-highest mark in Week 2 after his game-changing performance at Pitt. In Penn State’s 51-6 win, a contest closer in the first three quarters than the final score indicated, Gillikin had five punts. Four were downed at or inside the 15-yard line — at the 4, 9, 10 and 15. The Nittany Lions’ average starting field position was their 44-yard line. Pitt’s was its own 25.
Now, if you look at traditional punting numbers, Gillikin’s campaign so far might not seem that impressive. His 43.8 yards per punt would be a Penn State single-season record. But it ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally.
All those coffin corner punts negatively affect his traditional punting average. But it’s become his calling card.
Gillikin — an Academic All-Big Ten honoree who has recorded a 4.0 GPA every semester of his collegiate career — has, in his words, “gone about my business the same” since being named a captain in the offseason.
But there is added expectation that comes with being picked by peers as a team leader. And with true freshmen Jake Pinegar and Rafael Checa starting at placekicker and kickoff specialist, respectively, the junior has embraced that challenge.
That trust is extended to only a handful of players, like McSorley and senior safety Nick Scott, Gillikin’s fellow captains. Scott — who served as special teams captain in 2017 before taking the reins on defense — watched Gillikin grow. The former gunner said Gillikin is “an outlet and voice of encouragement” while still “laying the hammer” when younger players don’t live up to the set standard.
Galiano believes that guidance in invaluable. Pinegar, Checa, Vlad Hilling and Cade Pollard see Gillikin catch balls off the JUGs machine to work on his hand-eye coordination. They have heard about how he drives 150 miles from his hometown to Birmingham, Ala., to work with One On One Kicking specialist Mike McCabe during the offseason. And they know he talks to the punting expert weekly to help break down film.
Anyone who worried that Gillikin might leave early for the NFL can rest easy. He will more than likely stay through his senior year.
But Gillikin has a future in professional football if he wants one. That, according to both Galiano and McCabe.
Galiano, a former Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers special teams assistant, believes Gillikin’s skill-set compares favorably to those in the league, citing Gillikin’s “God-given” leg strength, directional prowess and “unbelievable hands” that help with catching the ball clean and efficiently getting the kick cleared.
Gillikin still thinks he has room to grow. In particular, the punter — who has allowed six total yards on four returns this year — wants to get a little more hangtime on his punts to eliminate potential explosive returns.
But for the most part, Gillikin is pleased with how he’s punted this season, and he should be. Gillikin helped the Nittany Lions dominate at Pitt and control the field position battle through three games.
And now that Penn State’s Big Ten slate is here — with games against Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin on the horizon — expect the Nittany Lions’ underrated weapon to play a role in their College Football Playoff push.