Nov. 12, 2012

AMHERST, Mass. - After Saturday's performance in the win at Akron, UMass football punter Colter Johnson has been named the MAC Special Team Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday. Johnson averaged 44.8 yards per boot with four of his six punts being downed inside the 10-yard line. Twice in the second half, he pinned Akron back to their one-yard line.

Johnson becomes the first Minuteman to earn a MAC weekly honor. The Minutemen defeated Akron 22-14 for the program's first-ever win at the FBS level and as members of the Mid-American Conference.

On Saturday, Johnson also had a long punt of 53 yards. Of his two punts that were not downed within the 10 yard line, one came in the second quarter with the ball at the UMass two-yard line and Johnson booting the ball 45 yards out of the end zone. The second was in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter as he punted the ball 49-yards to pin Akron at their own 22-yard line for what proved their final possession of the game.

Through 10 games, Johnson ranks 2nd in punting average (43.5 yards) in the MAC - just 0.1 yards behind league leader Jay Karutz of Eastern Michigan. His 16 punts of 50+ yards is good for second most in the league as well.