COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- After earning honorable mention three consecutive weeks, Tennessee Tech punter Chad Zinchini was named this week as the Football Championship Subdivision National Punter of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA).

Zinchini, a senior from Hendersonville, Tenn., who leads the nation in punting average, kicked four times last Thursday in Tech's game against UT Martin and averaged 50.2 yards per kick. Three of his four punts were downed inside the Skyhawks' 20-yard line including a 61-yard bomb that the Golden Eagles downed inside the UTM one-yard line.

Not only does Zinchini have the top average in FCS, his mark is the best in the nation including the Football Bowl Subdivision, Division II and Division III. The FBS leader is Zac Murphy of Miami (Ohio) at 47.7 yards per kick.

Through the first seven games this season, Zinchini has punted 41 times and avergaged 48.2 yards per kick. He has downed 13 kicks inside the 20-yard line, and has crushed 17 kicks of 50-yards more, including a career-long 70-yard kick at the University of Wisconsin.

Zinchini and the Golden Eagles will be in Richmond, Ky., Saturday for a 2 p.m. CDT Ohio Valley Conference contest at Eastern Kentucky University.