For the second week in a row, Julien Stokes, a senior return specialist for the University of Pennsylvania football team, has been named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week. The announcement was made by the Ivy League office on Monday.
Stokes becomes only the 11th player in Penn football history to earn an Ivy weekly award in consecutive weeks and is the first to do so as a special teams player.
In Saturday’s game against Lehigh, Stokes returned four kicks for 133 yards. His longest return, at 60 yards, set up a go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter. So far this season, he has six kick returns totaling 193 yards, along with four punt returns for 82 yards and one touchdown.
Stokes, who is from Newbury Park, California, currently leads NCAA FCS football statistically in both punt returns (20.5 yards per attempt) and all-purpose yards (206.5). He is also ranked eighth nationally in kickoff return yards per attempt (32.2).
Other Penn players recognized by the Ivy League this week include quarterback Liam O’Brien, wide receiver Jared Richardson, and defensive lineman Carter Janki, who were all placed on the league’s weekly honor roll.
After losing to ninth-ranked Lehigh over the weekend, Penn will play its home opener against Dartmouth at Franklin Field. This game will also mark their first matchup of the Ivy League season and is scheduled for 1 p.m.
“He’s just the 11th player in program history to earn an Ivy weekly award in back-to-back weeks and the first on special teams.”
At Lehigh on Saturday, “Stokes returned four kicks for 133 yards, including a 60-yarder that set up a go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter.”
“He now has six kick returns for 193 yards to begin the 2025 season to go along with his four punt returns for 82 yards and a score.”
“The Newbury Park, Calif. native enters the third week of the regular season quite literally the best (statistically) return specialist in NCAA FCS football, ranking first in both punt returns (20.5 yards per attempt) and all-purpose yards (206.5). Additionally, Stokes ranks eighth in kickoff return yards per attempt (32.2).”
“QB Liam O’Brien, WR Jared Richardson, and DL Carter Janki was tabbed to the Ivy League’s weekly honor roll for their efforts.”
“Following a hard-fought defeat at the ninth-ranked Mountain Hawks over the weekend, the Quakers return to University City to host two-time defending champion Dartmouth in both the home and Ivy League openers at Franklin Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.”
For more updates about Penn football’s upcoming games and player achievements visit PennAthletics.com or follow @PennFB on X or @PennFootball on Instagram.
