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SALT LAKE CITY — If Tom Hackett had it his way, he'd force people to recognize that punters are a vital part of a football team and should be equally recognized as some of the more highly-touted skills players.
Hackett's skills are well documented for Utah fans — how often does a punter get one of the loudest cheers during the senior introductions in the final game of the regular season? Hackett isn't completely fond of American-rules football, but he's one of the best at what he does at the position.
His skills punting "bacon" down the field in precise fashion have translated into something special as he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team Tuesday. While an honor of its own, Hackett is the only current athlete from the Pac-12 named to the honor, and is the youngest athlete included.
"I'm very honored and privileged to be named to this team," Hackett said in a prepared statement. "This will be something I will look back on for the rest of my existence. I'm not entirely sure to whom I owe for this honor, to be included with such legends in the game. Thank you Pac-12."
The senior punter was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team Tuesday, making it the third time he's been named to that honor. As the defending Ray Guy Award winner, Hackett has a viable shot to win it for the second year in a row as one of the awards' finalists. Hackett is the only punter in the conference's history of winning the Ray Guy Award.
He averaged 47.78 yards per punt for a total of 219.0 yards per game, which leads the Pac-12 and is third in the nation. Hackett had 20 punts that went over 50 yards this season, which is the most in the Pac-12. He has also downed 24 punts inside the 20-yard line (43.6 percent) with 11 of those being downed inside the 10-yard line.
Hackett holds the school record of 65 punts over 50 yards and the record for four punts over 70 yards. And Hackett is a perfect 3-for-3 in fake punts, including a fake punt against Oregon earlier in the year, despite his disdain for running.
"I kinda like kicking it, to be honest with you cause that's what I've been doing my whole life," he said earlier in the year. "I like kicking it, but the crowd likes me running it, the fans enjoy me running it."
Hackett joins the likes of John Elway, Ronnie Lott and Reggie Bush, among several other distinguished athletes in Pac-12 history named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team. A full list of those named to the team can be viewed on the Pac-12's website.
