Pitt punter earns Big East honors

Head coach Walt Harris wasn’t pleased with the lack of progress his team showed against… Head coach Walt Harris wasn’t pleased with the lack of progress his team showed against Nebraska on Saturday, but there was at least one player who has continued to improve since joining the program last year.

Sophomore punter/kickoff specialist Adam Graessle averaged a career-best 47.8 yards per punt against the Cornhuskers, with a long of 55. For his performance, Graessle has been named Big East Special Teams Player of the Week.

Three of Graessle’s five punts were inside the 20-yard line. One was downed at Nebraska’s 14-yard line, another at the 1-yard line. He has seven punts inside the 20-yard line through two games.

“I thought Adam Graessle punted the ball like the guy we think he can be,” Harris said. “He was a key player. He had very good hang time. [Nebraska] had one punt return for eight yards. That’s a big part of the game. And he kicked the ball off pretty good.”

After struggling with a few kicks against Ohio, Graessle has brought his season average up to 39.6 yards per punt, which is fewer than two yards behind Big East leader Brendan Carney of Syracuse.

Graessle also serves as the team’s kickoff specialist. He has kicked four touchbacks on nine kickoffs this year. Opponents’ average starting point has been at the 21-yard line.