University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Matthew Cook named FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
11/20/2023 9:52:00 AM | Football
Cedar Falls native wraps historic UNI career as one of the best scorers in MVFC and FCS history.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI placekicker Matthew Cook has been named the FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week, as announced on Monday morning.
Cook, a Cedar Falls native, scored nine points on a pair of field goals and three PAT attempts on Saturday in the Panthers' regular season finale loss to No. 9 North Dakota State. Hitting 19-of-21 field goals in his final collegiate season and a perfect 31-for-31 on PAT kicks, his single-season field goal percentage of 90.4% ranks fourth-best in program history.Â
UNI's hometown product caps his remarkable career with 86 career field goals made, a UNI record and second-most in FCS history. Cook made all 155 PAT attempts in his Panther career, the highest perfect mark in program, Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and FCS history. His 413 career points scored are also a UNI record and second-most in the history of the MVFC, just three points shy of tying the all-time record.
ÂThis week's full list of national honorees this week include:
- OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Zevi Eckhaus, QB (Bryant)
- DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Cirby Coheley, LB (Abilene Christian)
- SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Matthew Cook, PK (UNI)
- FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK - Jack Layne, QB (Idaho)
- TEAM OF THE WEEK - Drake
