Kyle Van Noy: Mormon Athlete

Kyle Van Noy is a professional football linebacker. He started his professional career with the Detroit Lions. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Van Noy was born on March 26, 1991, in Reno, Nevada, to Layne and Kelly Van Noy. He played football in high school and was an all-state linebacker and receiver. He led his football team to a perfect 14-0 record and a 4A state championship in 2008. He also lettered in basketball, baseball, and track. ESPN ranked him as the 63rd best high school athlete.

During his junior year at Brigham Young University, he was a third team All-American. He was named to the Bednarik Award Watch Lists, and received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Lombardi Award. He was National Linebacker of week 3. He earned the 2012 College Football Performance Award (CFPA) trophy for overall best defensive player of the year, and the 2012 Linebacker trophy. As a senior he was named to the watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Walter Camp Award, the Bednarik Award, and the Lott Trophy. He was a Phil Steele, USA Today, and SI.com Preseason All-American, and finished the season All-American to the Walter Camp Second Team, the Athlon Sports Third Team, and the CBSSports.com Third Team. He was also named to the All-Independent First team and was the All-Independent Defensive Player of the Year.

He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. In early September 2014, the Lions placed Van Noy on the Reserve/Injured-Designated for Return list after a surgery to repair a core muscle. He will be out for eight weeks.

Van Noy earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 2013. He married Marissa Powell, Miss Utah USA 2013, in June 2014.