Tusculum punter Gregory named national Player of the Week

WESTMONT, Ill. --- Tusculum College punter John Gregory has been named the Football Gazette Division II National Special Teams Player of the Week announced College officials Thursday.

Gregory, a 6-2, 210-pound freshman from Ooltewah, Tenn., earns his second national honor this week.  He was also tabbed the National Special Teams Player of the Week by D2football.com.  He averaged 47.8 yards on his six punts in Tusculum's 21-20 road win at Catawba last Saturday.  Gregory pinned Catawba inside the 20-yard line on two occasions, including his career-best 75-yard punt, the third longest in school history.

Gregory was also named the South Atlantic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season.  His punting average on Saturday was also the third best in school history.

The Ooltewah High School graduate leads the league in punting averaging 40.3 yards per boot, which is also 14th in the nation (NCAA Division II).

The Pioneers (5-3, 2-2 SAC) host 15th-ranked Newberry College this weekend for an important South Atlantic Conference contest at Pioneer Field.  Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.