BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy shows he is ready for the NFL

Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Kyle Van Noy was the obvious star of the Poinsettia Bowl. With each tackle, sack, interception, fumble recovery, blocked punt, and touchdown the junior recorded it was also obvious that Van Noy is ready to play in the NFL.

Ever since the 6-foot-3 Reno, Nevada native set foot on campus in 2010 his superior athleticism was readily apparent. During his freshman and sophomore seasons, Van Noy displayed great playmaking skills and a high football IQ. The ongoing question during his junior season has been whether it would be his final season at the collegiate level.

The job of a NFL scout includes looking at pro prospects through a critical lens. They aren’t going to fawn over him the way fans and television anchors do. Literally hours before the Poinsettia Bowl, I spoke with former BYU linebacker Brady Poppinga and asked him about Van Noy and if he was ready for the NFL.

Poppinga is a member of the Dallas Cowboys. He is in his eighth season playing linebacker in the NFL. He has made 298 tackles in his career. Suffice it to say, he knows what the NFL wants in linebackers. Poppinga said he thought Van Noy needed to be more physical and show he can defeat offensive linemen in one-on-one situations.

In the Poinsettia Bowl, Van Noy showed he was more than an athletic phenomenon. He showed he can get down and dirty. Van Noy made 1.5 sacks. Both times he got to the quarterback he had to fight off blocks from offensive linemen. San Diego State running back Adam Muema was a physical runner and BYU had to get physical to take him down. Arm tackles or diving at the ankles would not take him down. Many of Van Noy’s eight tackles on the night were plays where he took down Muema for no gain or a loss of yards.

Besides fighting off blocks and making physical tackles, Van Noy had a vintage KVN game. His stat line says it all.

8 tackles

1.5 sacks

3.5 tackles for loss

1 forced fumble

1 fumble recovery

1 interception

2 touchdowns

1 blocked punt

Van Noy made headlines as the only player in college football who recorded a stat in the ten major stat categories. He repeated that feat in 2012. Van Noy got eight of the ten in just this one game against San Diego State.

Simply put, Van Noy showed he is the complete package. He can do it all. He gives his all on the field.

Van Noy was a man among boys. He is ready to play with other men in the NFL.

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com