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Matt Gay Clinches Consensus All-American
12/13/2017 9:05 AM | Football
Becomes Utah’s seventh consensus All-American
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah junior kicker Matt Gay was named a first-team Sporting News and second-team American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American to clinch consensus All-America status. While the consensus All-America team won't be officially announced until tomorrow, Gay has locked up a spot by earning first-team status on three of the five teams used to determine consensus honors while making the second team on the other two.
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When the NCAA makes its official announcement on Dec. 14, Gay will become Utah's seventh consensus All-American, joining defensive lineman Luther Elliss (1994), offensive lineman Jordan Gross (2002), defensive back Eric Weddle (2006), kicker Louie Sakoda (2008), punter Tom Hackett (2014 and 2015) and punter Mitch Wishnowsky (2016).
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The consensus-qualifying first teams Gay made were the AP, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News. Gay, who won the 2017 Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker, was named to the Walter Camp and AFCA second teams.
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He becomes the ninth Utah player to earn Sporting News' first-team All-America honors, joining Roy Jefferson (1964, defensive back), Marv Bateman (1971-70, punter), Erroll Tucker (1985, return specialist), Weddle (2006), Sakoda (2008), Kaelin Clay (2014, returner), Hackett (2015) and Wishnowsky (2016).
Gay is just the sixth Ute to earn AFCA All-America honors, joining Elliss (1994), Weddle (2006), Sakoda (2008), Hackett (2014 and 2015) and Wishnowsky (2016).
Gay leads the nation in most major kicking categories, including field goals made (27), field goals made per game (2.25), 50+ yard field goals (5, tie) and field goals attempted (31). He has made 87-percent of his field goal attempts, which leads the Pac-12 and ranks 11th in the nation. Gay ranks ninth across all positions and third among kickers in scoring, averaging 9.8 points per game. He is 5-of-6 from 50+ yards, 4-of-6 between 40-49 yards and 18-of-19 inside the 40. His two 56-yard field goals are tied for the second-longest in the nation this season.
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Gay's 27 field goals and 31 attempts are school records, while his 118 points ranks second all-time in a season at Utah. He is the first Utah kicker to make five 50+ field goals in a season.
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He played soccer at Utah Valley in 2014 and 2016. His only previous football experience came as a high school senior at Orem High School in 2011.
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2017 All-America Honors
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Matt Gay
Associated Press (1st team)
FWAA (1st team)
Sporting News (1st team)
Walter Camp (2nd team)
AFCA (2nd team)
Sports Illustrated (1st team)
USA Today (1st team)
ESPN.com (1st team)
SB Nation (1st team)
Bleacher Report (1st team)
College Football News (1st team)
The All-American (2nd team)
CBSSports.com (2nd team)
Sports on Earth (2nd team)
Pro Football Focus (2nd team)
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Mitch Wishnowsky
Walter Camp (2nd team)
FWAA (2nd team)
Associated Press (3rd team)
Sports on Earth (2nd team)
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When the NCAA makes its official announcement on Dec. 14, Gay will become Utah's seventh consensus All-American, joining defensive lineman Luther Elliss (1994), offensive lineman Jordan Gross (2002), defensive back Eric Weddle (2006), kicker Louie Sakoda (2008), punter Tom Hackett (2014 and 2015) and punter Mitch Wishnowsky (2016).
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The consensus-qualifying first teams Gay made were the AP, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News. Gay, who won the 2017 Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker, was named to the Walter Camp and AFCA second teams.
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He becomes the ninth Utah player to earn Sporting News' first-team All-America honors, joining Roy Jefferson (1964, defensive back), Marv Bateman (1971-70, punter), Erroll Tucker (1985, return specialist), Weddle (2006), Sakoda (2008), Kaelin Clay (2014, returner), Hackett (2015) and Wishnowsky (2016).
Gay is just the sixth Ute to earn AFCA All-America honors, joining Elliss (1994), Weddle (2006), Sakoda (2008), Hackett (2014 and 2015) and Wishnowsky (2016).
Gay leads the nation in most major kicking categories, including field goals made (27), field goals made per game (2.25), 50+ yard field goals (5, tie) and field goals attempted (31). He has made 87-percent of his field goal attempts, which leads the Pac-12 and ranks 11th in the nation. Gay ranks ninth across all positions and third among kickers in scoring, averaging 9.8 points per game. He is 5-of-6 from 50+ yards, 4-of-6 between 40-49 yards and 18-of-19 inside the 40. His two 56-yard field goals are tied for the second-longest in the nation this season.
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Gay's 27 field goals and 31 attempts are school records, while his 118 points ranks second all-time in a season at Utah. He is the first Utah kicker to make five 50+ field goals in a season.
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He played soccer at Utah Valley in 2014 and 2016. His only previous football experience came as a high school senior at Orem High School in 2011.
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2017 All-America Honors
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Matt Gay
Associated Press (1st team)
FWAA (1st team)
Sporting News (1st team)
Walter Camp (2nd team)
AFCA (2nd team)
Sports Illustrated (1st team)
USA Today (1st team)
ESPN.com (1st team)
SB Nation (1st team)
Bleacher Report (1st team)
College Football News (1st team)
The All-American (2nd team)
CBSSports.com (2nd team)
Sports on Earth (2nd team)
Pro Football Focus (2nd team)
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Mitch Wishnowsky
Walter Camp (2nd team)
FWAA (2nd team)
Associated Press (3rd team)
Sports on Earth (2nd team)
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Players Mentioned
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