Kyle Van Noy plays in a game for the BYU Cougars. Van Noy is playing in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5 with the New England Patriots. (Ari Davis)
Kyle Van Noy was one of the biggest playmakers in BYU football history.
Van Noy left Provo in 2014 after racking up 153 total tackles, 26 sacks, seven interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and three blocked kicks. He single-handedly willed BYU to a win over San Diego State in the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl, scoring three touchdowns in the 23-6 victory.
He was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, but struggled with limited playing time and injuries. In two-and-a-half seasons in Detroit, Van Noy posted 39 tackles and one sack.
Now he's playing in the Super Bowl.
On October 25, 2016, Van Noy was traded to the New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth round draft pick.
Since being traded to the Patriots, Van Noy has posted 29 tackles, one sack, one interception and forced one fumble. In the postseason (two games), he's collected six tackles and a forced fumble.
He's become a playmaker for the stingiest defense in the NFL — a unit that allows just 15.7 points per game. On Sunday, his team faces the Atlanta Falcons who have the most potent offense in the NFL averaging 33.8 points per game in the regular season.
Van Noy graduated from McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada and came to BYU in 2010. He played for BYU from 2010 to 2013 and received many nominations and awards, including Independent Defensive Player of the Year his final season. While no accolade means more than the title of Super Bowl champion, Van Noy just remains thankful for the chance to contribute in New England.
'I'm very grateful for the opportunity I have,' Van Noy told the Boston Herald after a December win over the Miami Dolphins. 'But I'm just here to win games and do my part.'
Van Noy has one more game to win and one more chance to do his part when the Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5.