FCS, SLC Special Team Honors Bestowed upon Mortimer
11/24/2025 4:40:00 PM | Football
Nation’s leading punt returner stakes claim to final weekly awards of ’25 regular season
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Redshirt junior punt return man Bugs Mortimer staked claim to both Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and the Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Monday morning following an explosive conclusion to the 2025 regular season.
Mortimer capped Week 13 action at Northwestern State with 106 all-purpose yards on four touches highlighted by a 79-yard punt return touchdown that saw the Fort Lauderdale, Florida product reverse field for his FCS-best fourth PR touchdown of the season: the most by an FCS player since 2016. That return gave Mortimer SFA's single season record as well as the Southland Conference's seasonal standard for punt return yards in a season with 537 and counting.
The first year 'Jack enters the playoffs as the FCS leader in punt return average (21.5), punt return touchdowns (4) and total punt return yards. His punt return yardage total is 165 more than any other FCS player in 2025. His 21.5 yards per return is the fifth highest among all NCAA (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) returners, while his four scores lead the entire country.
Eight times this season a Lumberjack was named an SLC Player of the Week with Monday's appointment the second for Mortimer in three weeks. He joined Jaydon Southard as 'Jacks to receive Stats Perform national recognition in 2025.
SLC Players of the Week
9/22: Jerrell Wimbley (O), Kylon Harris (ST)
9/29: Jerrell Wimbley (O)
10/6: Sam Vidlak (O), Jaydon Southard (D)*
11/10: Bugs Mortimer (ST)
11/17: Carlos Alvarado (ST)
11/24: Bugs Mortimer (ST)*
*Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week
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For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Mortimer capped Week 13 action at Northwestern State with 106 all-purpose yards on four touches highlighted by a 79-yard punt return touchdown that saw the Fort Lauderdale, Florida product reverse field for his FCS-best fourth PR touchdown of the season: the most by an FCS player since 2016. That return gave Mortimer SFA's single season record as well as the Southland Conference's seasonal standard for punt return yards in a season with 537 and counting.
The first year 'Jack enters the playoffs as the FCS leader in punt return average (21.5), punt return touchdowns (4) and total punt return yards. His punt return yardage total is 165 more than any other FCS player in 2025. His 21.5 yards per return is the fifth highest among all NCAA (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) returners, while his four scores lead the entire country.
Game. Changer. ??
— Lumberjack Football (@SFA_Football) November 24, 2025
Congrats to Bugs Mortimer on being named the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week! #AxeEm x #EastTexasTough pic.twitter.com/URtCM3SvAm
Eight times this season a Lumberjack was named an SLC Player of the Week with Monday's appointment the second for Mortimer in three weeks. He joined Jaydon Southard as 'Jacks to receive Stats Perform national recognition in 2025.
SLC Players of the Week
9/22: Jerrell Wimbley (O), Kylon Harris (ST)
9/29: Jerrell Wimbley (O)
10/6: Sam Vidlak (O), Jaydon Southard (D)*
11/10: Bugs Mortimer (ST)
11/17: Carlos Alvarado (ST)
11/24: Bugs Mortimer (ST)*
*Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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