Van Noy receives midseason All-America accolades

PROVO, Utah — BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy has been named to the CBSSports.com Midseason All-America Team as voted on by staff and writers from CBSSports.com.

The senior outside linebacker also placed second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year, which was awarded to UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr.

“We watch a lot of football each week, and I don’t know if there is a defensive player to me that pops off the screen more often than Van Noy,” said CBSSports.com’s Jerry Hinnen during a podcast discussing the midseason selections.  “In terms of big impact plays, the guy you just cannot help but watching if you turn on a game, to me, it’s got to be Van Noy.”

Among the many plays made by the 6-foot-3, 245-pound native of Reno, Nev., Van Noy has returned an interception for a touchdown, forced a safety, recorded 10 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and four sacks. He is ranked second among active NCAA players with 26 career sacks and has recorded five defensive touchdowns over his BYU career, finding the end zone in each of his four seasons.

Over BYU’s first six games Van Noy has twice been named FBS Independent Defensive Player of the Week while helping BYU to a 4-2 record at the midway point of the season.  He leads a BYU unit that ranks tied for 15th nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 17.3 points per game.

The midseason All-America team and Awards are a prelude to the CBSSports.com postseason team and awards, which will be unveiled on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

To check out the entire team and get analysis from the writers at CBS Sports go to CBSSports.com.