ROCHESTER, NY - Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) of the Utica University football team has been named Empire 8 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. 
 
Palmer made two clutch plates in the fourth quarter to secure the win for the Pioneers against nationally ranked Union College on Saturday, 31-24. Palmer caught a nine-yard touchdown pass in order to set up the tying extra point for the Pioneers, then put them in front with a 43-yard punt return touchdown from deep inside Dutchmen territory. That return is currently the longest punt return in the Empire 8 Conference this season. Palmer is currently sitting at 576 receiving yards, and 7 receiving touchdowns, putting him second on the NCAA leaderboard in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. This is Palmer's second E8 weekly award of the 2022 season. 
 
Palmer and the Pioneers are back in action this Saturday to take on the Hartwick Hawks at 1PM from Charles A. Gaetano Stadium for Homecoming.