Van Noy adds All-America award headlining 14 Cougars receiving Phil Steele All-Independent honors

PROVO, Utah—BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy received his fifth All-America award of the season and headlined 14 Cougars named to the 2013 Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent Team released Friday.

Van Noy received third-team recognition on the 2013 Phil Steele Postseason All-America Team to mark his fifth All-America selection of the year, adding to the four All-America honors he received as a junior in 2012. Van Noy is the first BYU player to receive back-to-back All-America status since current Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta in 2008 and 2009. 

Phil Steele also released his annual all-conference team picks on Friday, recognizing 14 Cougars for their outstanding play as members of his All-Independent squad. 

Led by Van Noy, BYU had a team-high five players named as first-team defense selections. Fellow senior linebacker Uani 'Unga joined Van Noy along with senior defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna, senior safety Daniel Sorensen and junior safety Craig Bills.  Three Cougars—senior receiver Cody Hoffman, junior offensive tackle Michael Yeck and sophomore running back Jamaal Williams—were named to the first-team offense, while senior punt returner JD Falslev and sophomore kick returner Adam Hine claimed two of the four first-team picks on special teams. 

In addition to BYU's 10 first-team honorees, four Cougars received second-team accolades. Sophomore quarterback Taysom Hill represented the offense with sophomore defensive end Bronson Kaufusi and junior cornerback Robertson Daniel earning placement on defense and senior placekicker Justin Sorensen being recognized on special teams. 

BYU and Notre Dame each placed a high of 10 players on the first team with Notre Dame leading the way with 17 overall selections followed by BYU's 14. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is one of the nation’s most informative preseason football magazines and has always released Preseason, Midseason and Postseason All-American teams as well as all-conference teams. 

This season Van Noy has been named to All-America teams by Walter Camp (second team), CBSSports.com (third team), Athlon Sports (third team), Lindy's (third team) and Phil Steele (third team) and received honorable mention from Sports Illustrated. The Senior Class Award finalist was also named the FBS Independent Defensive Player of the Year while also being named the top defender among independents by College Sports Madness and SB Nation. 

In 2012, Van Noy received All-America awards from CBSSports.com (second team), The Associated Press (third team), Phil Steele (third team) and College Sports Madness (third team) while receiving honorable mention from Sports Illustrated. The Reno, Nev., native also was named the 2012 National Defensive Player of the Year by College Football Performance Awards, an award not yet announced for 2013 that is exclusively based on scientific statistical rankings in determining overall contributions to a team. 

Van Noy's teammates being recognized in the All-America realm this season include 'Unga (SI.com honorable mention) on defense and Hill and Williams (both College Football News Sophomore All-America Team honorable mention) on offense.  Additionally, Hill was named the All-Independent Offensive Player of the Year by College Sports Madness.

For a full list of the Phil Steele's postseason teams, please visit PhilSteele.com. Select PDF below to view the 2013 Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent Team, All-America Team and Freshman All-America Team.