GOULDSBY TAPPED AS NJCAA SPECIAL TEAM OF THE WEEK AWARD

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

For the third time this season, the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team earned an NJCAA National Player of the Week award.

After posting one of the top return days in Blue Dragon Football history, freshman return specialist Kordell Gouldsby was named the Week 8 Division I NJCAA Football Special Teams National Player of the week.

Gouldsby played a huge role in Hutchinson's 48-7 victory over Independence last Saturday at Shulthis Stadium, accounting for 231 all-purpose yards.

The freshman return specialist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, had eight punt returns for 148 yards, including a 50-yard return for a touchdown in the third quarter. He is the first Blue Dragon since Tyrell Reed Jr. in 2023 to return a punt for a touchdown.

Gouldsby also had 83 yards on two Independence kickoffs.

Gouldsby is the Jayhawk Conference leader in both punt returns (17.9 yards per return) and kickoff returns (33.6 yards per return).

Gouldsby joins Blue Dragon place kicker Nestus Burger as Blue Dragons to win Special Teams national honors. He is the first Blue Dragon return specialist to capture national weekly honors since Tre Richardson won the award twice last season.

BLUE DRAGON/NJCAA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 18 – Samari Collier, offense
September 18 – Nestus Burger, special teams
October 16 – Kordell Gouldsby, special teams