Alabama’s Arenas sets SEC record with seventh punt return for touchdown

Arenas’ 7th punt return for TD sets SEC record

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 2 Alabama’s Javier Arenas set a Southeastern Conference record with his seventh punt return for a touchdown.

Arenas sprinted down the right sideline for a 66-yard score early in the second quarter of Saturday’s game against Chattanooga.

He was tied with Kentucky’s Derek Abney, who returned six punts for scores from 2000-03. Abney also scored on a two kick returns, leaving Arenas still one TD shy of the overall record for returns.

Arenas also came into the game just 105 yards behind Vanderbilt’s Lee Nalley’s SEC record of 1,695 career punt return yards. He is within range of the NCAA record of 1,761 yards set by Texas Tech’s Wes Welker.

Welker and Oklahoma’s Antonio Perkins hold the NCAA record for career punt returns for touchdowns with eight.