John Hoyland Named an AP Preseason Second Team All-American

LARAMIE -- The Associated Press announced its 2023 Preseason All-America Teams on Monday and University of Wyoming junior place-kicker John Hoyland was named to the Second Team.

Hoyland was the only player from a non-autonomous five conference to be named to either the AP First or Second Team.

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Wyoming's head coach Craig Bohl isn't surprised.

"Certainly, John is recognized nationally," said Bohl, who also serves as the Cowboys' kicking coach. "I think his numbers were such that they were really good. I know last year we ran him out one time and some coaches were questioning, 'Are we really going to kick it from here?' One coach said, 'I guess we're going to find out.' He split the uprights.

"... He's a weapon, and points really matter. So, we're pleased to have him."

Hoyland is coming off a 2022 season that saw him make 88% of his field goal attempts, ranking him as the best of any FBS kicker returning in 2023 who made more than 20 field goals last season. He achieved that percentage while being one of only two kickers in the country with four made field goals from over 50 yards during the 2022 season.

Among kickers with at least 50 career attempts, his career 84.9% accuracy is tied for second-best.

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The boot Bohl was referring to was a 55-yarder in a 40-37 double-overtime victory over Tulsa. That was the longest kick in the Mountain West last season and tied for fifth longest in the nation. He also drilled one from 53 yards out in the Arizona Bowl.

Earlier this summer, Hoyland was named a 2023 Second Team Preseason All-American as selected by Athlon Sports and a Third Team Preseason All-American as named by Phil Steele.

He was selected by Mountain West Media to the 2023 Preseason All-Conference Team, as well as being named to the First Team Preseason All-Mountain West Conference teams as selected by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

The junior from Broomfield, Colo., also is one of 30 FBS place-kickers named to the 2023 Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List. In 2022, Hoyland was one of 20 semifinalists for the Groza Award.

Hoyland was a 2022 First Team All-Mountain West Conference selection as voted by MW head coaches and media. He led the MW and ranked No. 7 in the nation in field goals made (1.69 per game) in 2022. He also ranked No. 2 in the MW and No. 18 in the FBS in field-goal percentage (88.0 percent), making 22 of 25 field goal attempts.

His 22 made field goals set a new Wyoming single-season school record, breaking the record of former Cowboy All-America kickers Cory Wedel, who made 20 field goals in 1996, and J.D. Wallum, who made 20 in 2001.

In 2022, Hoyland made four field goals of over 50 yards -- 51, 53, 53 and 55.

* A University of Wyoming press release contributed to this article