Former University of Arkansas At Pine Bluff football player Jamie Gillan and the Cleveland Browns won their second straight game in National Football League action Thursday night.
Gillan had another strong effort in Cleveland's 21-7 win over Pittsburgh in a nationally televised game on FOX / NFL Network.
Gillan averaged 45.8 yards on eight punts with a long of 59 and four downed inside the 20.
He had punts of 43 and 59 yards in the first quarter, a 48-yard punt in the second quarter, punts of 59 and 32 yards in the third quarter, and punts of 58, 39 and 28 yards in the fourth quarter in helping create challenging field position for the Steelers.
Gillan, who entered the game ranked tied for 10
th in punting at 46.7 yards per punt, earned the starting job for Cleveland during the preseason. In four preseason games, Gillan averaged 46.6 yards on 17 punts, with an NFL-long of 74 yards with six downed inside the 20.
He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors in September, averaging 41.6 yards per punt during the Browns' first four games, with 11 of them being downed inside the 20, which ranks second in the conference. Gillan earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades following Cleveland's win at the New York Jets in Week 2 after averaging 38.5 yards on six punts, with five downed inside the 20.
In 2018 as a Golden Lion, Gillan led the SWAC with an average of 42.9 yards per punt to rank 13
th in FCS football with a net average of 37.5 yards. A total of 19 punts traveled more than 50 yards, and 27 of his punts were down inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Gillan also had 31 touchbacks, which ranked 16
th nationally and allowed only 17.4 yards per return. Gillan earned first-team All-SWAC honors at both punter and kicker.
Gillan and the Browns return to action Sunday, Nov. 24 hosting Miami at Noon on FOX. Another former Golden Lion, LT Terron Armstead and the New Orleans Saints play Sunday at Tampa Bay at Noon on FOX.
