Hawkins earns conference, national honors for punting performance

INDIANOLA, Iowa — Simpson punter Nathan Hawkins earned Iowa Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors Monday and was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday after a record-setting performance in Saturday's 30-0 win over Loras.

IIAC Performers of the Week
D3football.com Team of the Week

Punting for the first time in his collegiate career, Hawkins -- a junior from Solon, Iowa -- averaged a school-record 52.7 yards on six punts, pinning Loras inside its own 15 four times. He boomed four punts of 50-plus yards, including a 66-yarder that is the fifth-longest in school history. 

Hawkins' leg contributed to a Loras average starting field position of its own 21 as the Storm posted their first shutout since 2012. One of his punts was downed at the eight and another was fumbled and recovered by Simpson at the 10, resulting in a touchdown. 

Hawkins is the first Simpson player to be named to the D3football.com Team of the Week since running back Adam Reutzel in week four of the 2008 season.