#38 Derek Helton Season 2024
CAREER
Spent two years with the Tigers after transferring from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas … LSU’s starting punter in 2009 and 2010 … Finished career with a 42.5 average on 80 punts … The 42.5 career average ranks third in school history.
SENIOR SEASON (2010)
LSU’s starting punter … Averaged 45.7 yards on 34 punts … The 45.7 average ranks as the second-best single-season total in school history … Ranked second in the SEC in average and would have ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA but he didn’t meet the minimum number of punts to be listed among national leaders … Had 14 of his 34 punts downed inside the 20-yard line … Set a career-high with an 82-yard punt and a 57-yard average at Arkansas … The 82-yard punt ranks as the second-longest in school history … Had another strong outing against Louisiana-Monroe with a 47.7 average on three punts … Had the best game of his career at Auburn with five punts for a 53.2-yard average with a long of 56 and a career-high four punts downed inside the 20, including two downed at the Auburn one-yard line … Punted twice for a 47-yard average with a long of 56 against McNeese State … Had three punts for 123 yards, a 41.0-yard average and two downed inside the 20 at Florida … Punted twice against Tennessee with a 45.5 average and a long of 55 … Was outstanding against West Virginia with a three punts placed inside the 20 as he punted four times for a 46.0 average, including a long of 55 yards.
JUNIOR SEASON (2009)
LSU’s starting punter … Played in 12 games and missed the Tulane contest with an injury … Averaged 40.0 yards on 46 punts for the year … Helped LSU rank No. 3 in the SEC and No. 13 in the nation in net punting with a 38.9 average … At Alabama, averaged a career-high 47 yards on six punts … Had a long of 53 yards against the Crimson Tide with one punt downed inside the 20-yard line … For the year, had seven punts downed inside the 20-yard line … Averaged 44.5 yards on five punts in win over Mississippi State … Had five punts of 50 yards or more in 2009 … Also served as the Tigers’ holder on place kicks.
JUNIOR COLLEGE
A junior college transfer from Fort Scott (Kan.) CC…Named to the 2008 KJCCC All-Conference second team…Averaged 36.1 yards on 70 punts and had a 68-yard long as a sophomore…As a freshman, averaged 35.6 yards on 69 punts with a 64-yard long…Received MVP Punter honors at Chris Sailer’s Elite Kicking camp in Burbank, Calif. in July 2008…Did not start playing football until he was a junior in high school…Coached by Jeff Sims.
PERSONAL
Full name is Derek Michael Helton … Born April 14, 1989 … Parents are Robert and Heather Helton … Has three siblings – Robert, Chris and Amber … Majoring in sports administration.
CAREER HIGHS
Number: 6, twice (Last: at Alabama, 2009)
Yards: 282 vs. Alabama, 2009
Average: 57.0 at Arkansas, 2010
Long: 82 at Arkansas, 2010
HELTON’S CAREER PUNTING STATISTICS
Year
2009
2010
34
1,555
45.7
82
3
5
14
0
Totals