ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Senior Tae Marrero Jr. of the Southern Illinois University football team has been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after SIU’s 31-17 win over Northern Iowa on Saturday.
This is the first time in Marrero’s career he has received the honor.
Marrero did something on Saturday that a Saluki hasn’t done in nearly 20 years: return a punt for a touchdown. The Louisville, Ky., native caught the ball from his own 19-yard line and went 81 yards to the endzone early in the third quarter to extend SIU’s lead to 31-3.
The last time a Southern Illinois player recorded a punt return touchdown was 6,944 days prior on Oct. 21, 2006, via Craig Turner against Western Kentucky.
Marrero’s punt return touchdown was the 20th in program history.
Overall, the senior had four returns for a total of 104 yards vs. Northern Iowa.
Southern Illinois has now had the Valley’s Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season, as kicker/punter Paul Geelen also received the accolade on Sept. 15 after SIU’s win at UT Martin.
Marrero and the Salukis, who are now 5-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play, will head to Murray State on Saturday to face the Racers at 4 p.m. in their next game.
