Sept. 8, 2008

OXFORD, Ohio - Averaging a school-record 53.9 yards per punt vs. Michigan, Miami University's JAKE RICHARDSON (Oxford) has been named the Mid-American Conference's East Division Special Teams Player of the Week.

Richardson booted a career-best 74-yarder and had five of his seven kicks go for more than 50 yards. Four of his seven punts were downed inside the 20-yard line and one was a touchback. The 53.9 yards per punt average is the 10th best effort in MAC history and his 74-yard punt is tied for third-best in school history.

Richardson, a top candidate for the Ray Guy Award, leads the NCAA in punting at 51.58 yards per punt. He is believed to be the first Miami player to lead the nation in that category.

During his Miami career he has punted 179 times for 7,626 yards, an average of 42.6 yards (first all-time at Miami and fifth-best all-time in MAC). He finished last year with a 45.0 average, sixth-best in the nation and less than two yards per kick behind the NCAA leader.

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