Michigan State kicker Matt Coghlin named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week

Michigan State kicker Matt Coghlin is the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, following his clutch performance in Week Seven against the Indiana Hoosiers. Coghlin, a graduate student now in his sixth-year with the Spartans, drilled a career-high-tying 51-yard field goal in the third quarter game and also made a 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to help MSU secure the victory over IU.

With the two field goal makes on Saturday, Coghlin now has recorded 74 career field goals made, which ranks him second all-time in Big Ten history — behind only Penn State’s Kevin Kelly, who made 78 field goals in a span from 2005 to 2008. Against Rutgers in Week Six, Coghlin broke the Michigan State program record for most career field goals made with 72, passing Brett Swenson. Coghlin continues to add to that total, and is now just five makes away from breaking the Big Ten Conference all-time record.

So far in the 2021 season, Coghlin, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, has made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts (66.7 percent), with the 51-yarder against Indiana being his longest. He is a perfect 30-for-30 on extra points, and has not missed an extra point attempt in his entire career (137-for-137).

This is the fourth time in Coghlin’s career that he has earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week recognition. He is the fifth Spartan this season to earn honors from the Big Ten Conference, as wide receiver Jalen Nailor was named Offensive Player of the Week last week following a strong performance against Rutgers; Kenneth Walker III earned Offensive Player of the Week accolades after his impressive debut in Week One’s victory over Northwestern; Payton Thorne received the Offensive Player of the Week nod following his great game against Miami (FL) in Week Three; and Jadyen Reed was named Special Teams Player of the Week following his punt return touchdown versus Nebraska in Week Four.

Michigan State heads into the bye week with a 7-0 record, and will next play the rival Michigan Wolverines on Oct. 30 in East Lansing.