Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton punter
Josiah Smith has been selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week for Week 6 of the 2025 season. Smith is the first Wheaton player to earn recognition from the website this season and the latest Thunder player named to the list since
Peter Johanik in Week 10 last season. In addition, Smith is the first Wheaton punter named to the list.
Smith had three punts on Saturday in Wheaton's win at Illinois Wesleyan as he averaged 56.3 yards per punt, including a career-long 64-yard punt. Smith also had a stellar day as Wheaton's holder on kick attempts, including a successful two-point conversion that he ran in following a high snap on a PAT attempt late in the second quarter. Of his three punts, one landed inside the 20-yard line and another landed on the 20. The 64-yard punt flipped the field, as Wheaton was on its own 16 before the punt went all the way to the IWU 20. IWU went three-and-out and Wheaton got the ball back with excellent field position and scored on the next drive to go up 14-0.
On the season, Smith is averaging 45 yards pet punt with five punts being placed inside the opponent's 20.
Smith and the Thunder return to action on Saturday at noon against Carthage at McCully Stadium.