BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State punter Bentlee Critcher (South Daytona Beach, Fla.) has been named the Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week following an all-around effort in the Apps' 37-7 win at New Mexico State on Saturday.

Critcher punted only once, but impacted the game a number of different ways. His lone punt went 53 yards and was downed at the NMSU 3-yard line in the third quarter. He also kicked off eight times. All eight went for touchbacks.

Critcher also had one of the highlights on the game, racing 28 yards with a fake punt in the third quarter. The senior sprinted up the middle untouched to keep a third quarter drive alive, finishing the run trying plow through a would-be tackler.  

Critcher is sixth in the Sun Belt with a 40.9 yard punting average, but rarely allows a return. He's allowed only 11 returns in 12 games this season. Critcher has seven punts of 50-plus yards this season.