SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Oct. 13, 2025) – The Southern Conference announced that ETSU's
Xavier Gaillardetz was named the Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday afternoon. It is the second weekly award that a Buccaneer has earned this season (
Devontae Houston – Offensive Player of the Week – Sept. 1). Furthermore, Gaillardetz is the first non-kicker/punter from ETSU to ever earn the honor of SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week.
Gaillardetz provided a big spark for ETSU as it rolled to a 45-10 victory over VMI on Saturday. Gaillardetz opened the scoring on Saturday with an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Keydets. The punt return for a touchdown was the fifth-longest in the FCS this season, and it marks the first for ETSU since 2018. Additionally, it was tied for the fourth-longest punt return ever by an ETSU player and the longest since 1998 when Anthony Stringfield returned a punt 91 yards against The Citadel.
Gaillardetz and the rest of the Buccaneers will return to action this Saturday when they visit longtime rival Chattanooga for the annual Rail Rivalry Game. Kickoff for that game is set for 1:30 p.m.
For more information on Buccaneer football, visit
ETSUBucs.com and click on the football tab.
