University of Iowa punter Tory Taylor has been named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season. Taylor's dominant performance in the Iowa Hawkeyes' win over Illinois earned him the recognition. In the game, Taylor punted eight times for an average of 51.6 yards per punt, with six punts going for 50+ yards. He also landed two punts inside the 20-yard line. This performance not only solidified Taylor as a top punter in the Big Ten but also broke Iowa's school record for career punts, with a total of 274 in his career.
Taylor, a senior from Melbourne, Australia, will be departing for the NFL after this season. Throughout his career at Iowa, he has consistently been a game-changer for the Hawkeyes, frequently flipping field position and setting up their defense in favorable positions. This season alone, Taylor has averaged 48.2 yards per punt on 72 attempts. He has landed 27 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and has a long punt of 62 yards.
Not only is Taylor a prime candidate for the Ray Guy award, given to the best punter in the nation, but he has also been a critical factor in Iowa's success on the field. His powerful punting has helped contribute to the team's victories, and his performances have been instrumental in winning games.
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck off the southern coast of the Philippines on Saturday, leading to a tsunami warning being issued. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially stated that based on the magnitude and location, it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines, as well as parts of Indonesia, Palau, and Malaysia. However, the center later dropped its warning.
The quake occurred at 10:37 p.m. local time and was measured at a depth of 20 miles. There were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties. The Philippines experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region known for seismic activity.
Authorities in Japan also issued evacuation orders in various parts of Okinawa Prefecture, affecting thousands of people. In the Philippines, residents along the coast of southern Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces were advised to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
The U.S. State Department is aware of the earthquake and is working with local authorities to determine if any U.S. citizens were affected. The department encourages those in affected areas to contact their loved ones directly and update their status on social media.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, minor sea level fluctuations may occur in some coastal areas, but the tsunami threat has passed.
