YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University redshirt junior punter Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon) was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Special Teams Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 1. It is the first weekly award of his career and the fourth league accolade by an Eagle this season.
Barnes' incredible performance in the punting game helped Eastern Michigan to a 28-25 conference-opening win over Bowling Green State University on the road, Oct. 1. Punting five times, Barnes' averaged a season-best 50.0 yards per punt, highlighted by a long of 56 yards.