PROVO -- After leading the Mountain West Conference and ranking fifth nationally in punting, BYU senior Matt Payne has been named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.
"Matt is not only a great punter, but also a great athlete," BYU Associate Head Coach Lance Reynolds said. "He was a critical part of our special teams this season. His ability to help us control field position was incredible, especially pinning our opponents inside the 20-yard line. We couldn't have asked for more. Matt has been a very valuable member of this team for a long time. We're going to miss him."
Listed earlier in the season as the only player in the country as both a Ray Guy and Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Payne finished the season averaging a league-best 45.3 yards per punt and ranked second nationally in net punting, posting a 41.1 net average.
On the season, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound native of North Ogden, Utah, placed 23 punts inside the 20-yard line, while only 27 of his 62 punts were returned for an average 8.5 yards per return. An amazing 56.5 percent of his punts were not returnable.
The three-time, All-Mountain West Conference first-team performer was named the MWC Special Teams Player of the Week five different times during the season.
In the Cougars' season opening victory over Notre Dame, Payne totaled nine punts for 421 yards, averaging 46.8 yards per punt. On the night, six of Payne's nine punts landed inside the 20-yard line, while four of those six landed inside the 10-yard line. Only two punts were returned all night, one for eight yards and one for just three yards.
In one of the more memorable punts in BYU football history, Payne mishandled the snap from center John Denney. In what appeared to be certain disaster, Payne recovered the snap and ran to his right to avoid the Notre Dame rush. On a full sprint--in mid-stride--Payne booted a 58-yard punt, pinning the Irish on their own 2-yard line. Payne, who was named the Russell Athletic ESPN Player of the Game against the Irish, was also credited with a 63-yard bomb that stranded Notre Dame on its own 8-yard line.
Against top-ranked USC, Payne was credited with eight punts for 386 yards, averaging 48.3 yards per punt against the Trojans. He connected on a career-long 79-yard punt in the second half, marking the longest punt in Mountain West Conference history and the longest punt in the nation to that point in the season. Payne's 79-yard bomb was also one yard shy of Lee Johnson's 21-year-old school record. Of his eight punts against the Trojans, only two were returned for a total of seven yards--a net punting average of 47.4 yards on the night. Two of his eight punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, while he had one touchback and one fair catch called.
Payne was credited with five punts for an average of 47.6 yards per punt and added seven points in the Cougars' 10-point victory over Colorado State. He averaged 47.6 yards per punt against the Rams, marking his highest average since posting 48.3 yards per punt against top-ranked USC earlier in the season. Against CSU, only two of his five punts were returned for a combined total of five yards, establishing a 46.6 net punting average. Three of Payne's punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, including two punts inside the five-yard line. As a result, Colorado State was forced to start five drives with an average field position from their own 14-yard line. Following the CSU game, the Cougars took over the national lead in net punting, averaging 42.9 yards per punt.
Two of Payne's punts led directly to 10 points against Colorado State, which proved to be the Cougars' winning margin against the Rams.
With one second remaining in the first quarter, Payne hit a 55-yard punt that pinned the Rams up against their own three-yard line. After the defense forced CSU to punt deep in its own territory, the BYU offense took advantage of its field position and used nine plays to set up a Payne 52-yard field goal.
After the BYU offense had stalled early in the third quarter, Payne came up with 52-yard field goal that went out of bounds at the CSU two-yard line and as a result, changed the momentum of the game. The BYU defense held firm again, forcing Colorado State to punt once again. Trailing 14-10, BYU took over with 5:25 left in the third quarter and drove 65 yards for the go-ahead touchdown--a Curtis Brown five-yard run.
In the Cougars' 41-24 win over Air Force, Payne totaled three punts on the afternoon, averaging 42.3 yards per punt. He had one punt downed inside the 20-yard line and one downed on the 21-yard line.
Against SDSU, Payne had four punts for 187 yards, averaging 46.8 yards per punt. Of his four punts, two were downed inside the 20-yard line, while the other two were returned for a combined total of only 12 yards. On the day, Payne produced a net punting average of 43.8 yards per punt. Payne was also credited with another solo tackle on punt coverage, giving the linebacker-like punter eight tackles on the season.
With the AFCA's announcement, Payne becomes the first, first-team All-American at BYU since Luke Staley garnered consensus All-America honors in 2001.