Cal Punter Lachlan Wilson Earns Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week

The Pac-12 today announced its 2023 football season's fifth weekly performance awards. Cal punter Lachlan Wilson won this week’s Special Teams award for his standout performance in Cal’s 24-21 win over ASU Saturday. It was Cal’s second Pac-12 Player of the Week Award this season, with Wilson joining offensive lineman Brian Driscoll as a POW award recipient.

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Lachlan Wilson, RS Jr., P, California (Eaglemont, Australia)

Head coach Justin Wilcox said in his post-game presser that you could argue (then quickly clarified that "I don't even know if it's an argument") that Wilson "was the most valuable player for us today" in Cal's 24-21 win over Arizona State. 

Booted 4 of his 7 punts 53 yards or longer including his Cal career-long 59-yarder and averaged a Cal career-best 49.7 yards per punt

4 of his 7 punts made ASU start drives at their own 20-yard line or worse, including 2 inside the 10 and 1 inside the 5

Cal capitalized on Wilson pinning the Sun Devils deep in their own territory by scoring 17 of their points on drives that followed Wilson pinning the Sun Devils at or inside the 20. 

For the game, ASU's average starting field position was its' own 20-yard line, while Cal's was its' own 40. 

Also the holder on all 4 successful attempts (1-1 FG, 3-3 PAT) by Mateen Bhaghani in Bhaghani's first game as the Golden Bears' starting placekicker.

1st Cal player to win Special Teams Player of the Week since PK Greg Thomas in Week 3 of 2019

Also nominated:  Josh Green, P, Oregon State; Dario Longhetto, K, Arizona State; Jack Bouwmeester, P, Utah; Ross James, P, Oregon; Kyle Ostendorp, P, Arizona; Eddie Czaplicki, P/PK, USC;