Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | PUNT | YDS | AVG | LONG | IN20 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 39-14vs SE Louisiana | 1 | 50 | 50.0 | 50 | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 24-28@ Tulane | 2 | 98 | 49.0 | 53 | 1 | |
| Wk 3 | W 41-36vs Ohio | 3 | 86 | 28.7 | 40 | 1 | |
| Total | 6 | 234 | 42.6 | 53 | 2 |
#40
Aleksi Pulkkinen
Senior punter for South Alabama. From Helsinki, Finland — one of 5 players from Finland in FBS this season.
6′4″ · 215 lb · Helsinki
The numbers
39
yards per punt · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 punts, 50 avg, vs SE Louisiana
Inside the 20 · 33%
0%field median 33%60%
2 of his 6 punts died inside the 20. The field median is about one in three, among 134 FBS punters with 5+ punts this season.
The story
Senior punter for South Alabama. From Helsinki, Finland — one of 5 players from Finland in FBS this season.
The full story, with sourcesAleksi Pulkkinen
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane. He has spent three seasons at South Alabama. His first career honor landed in 2025: All-Sun Belt.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
202512 games
- All-Sun Belt
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
South Alabama
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🎖
ALL-SUN BELT
All-Sun Belt mention (2025)
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
South Alabama
Played his entire career under Major Applewhite.
Game log
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 39–14
vs SE Louisiana
50 yards per punt · 1 punts · 50 long
Dominant 25-point win at home against SE Louisiana.
2026 snapshot
Since week 2: +3 punts, +1 punt inside the 20.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Major Applewhite — 13-15 over that span.
2024South Alabama7-6HC: Major Applewhite · Balanced
2025South Alabama4-8HC: Major Applewhite · Run-heavy
2026South Alabama2-1HC: Major Applewhite · Run-heavy, fast tempo
How he plays
Play style
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
CFB Index positional classification
Starter
South Alabama carries three punters; Pulkkinen has taken all six punts.
The battery
South Alabama’s specialists
- #42Anthony ZaccaroLong snapper · Sr.
- #44Baxter TurnerLong snapper · Sr.
- #47Grant RountreeLong snapper · Jr.
- #40Aleksi PulkkinenPunter · Sr.6 punts · 39 avg · 2 inside the 20
- #46Blayne MunsonPunter · Fr.
- #39James WhatleyPunter · Fr.
- #35Davis LittleKicker · Jr.6 of 7 on field goals
- #94Hamilton DiBoyanKicker · So.2 of 2 on field goals
- #98Christopher AikmanKicker · Fr.
- #37Dylan FreeburyKicker · So.
- #97Max RothKicker · Jr.
- #38Peyton ArgentKicker · Jr.
Where he came from
From Helsinki, Finland — one of 5 players from Finland in FBS this season.
DNA match
Player DNA
Steady
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
P
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Bryce Lofton’s 2023 season.
Matches Bryce on
In-20 rate
Yards / punt
Class year
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Reed Harradine's sophomore season at Southern Miss (2025).
77%match
Matches Reed on
Yards / punt
In-20 rate
Height
Differs from Reed on
Class year (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Aleksi Pulkkinen
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology