Van Noy’s future still undecided

With his junior season over, Brigham Young linebacker Kyle Van Noy has a decision to make - turn pro or return to the Cougars for his senior year.

"I have no idea what I'm going to do," Van Noy said. "I'm gonna go back and look over what the scouts are saying and what my coaches are saying and make that decision with my parents."

April's NFL Draft will have no shortage of linebackers, including Notre Dame's Manti Te'o, but Van Noy hopes his bowl performance will attract enough attention to help him decide what to do.

Van Noy haunted San Diego State with a blocked punt, a forced fumble and recovery for a touchdown and an interception return for a score in the Cougars' 23-6 win in the Poinsettia Bowl.

The standout from McQueen High School in Reno amassed 22 sacks, 44½ tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, five interceptions and three touchdowns during his three seasons in Provo. Somewhere along the way, he taught his mother about football.

"She kind of gets football now," he said. "I had to explain it by using spices on the kitchen table, but she understands. My mom (Kelly) is my best friend. I'm a mama's boy."

Van Noy headlined BYU's top 10-rated defense, and if he decides to return for his senior season, he and the Cougars face the toughest schedule in school history. BYU will play home games against Texas, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Utah and Middle Tennessee State and road games at Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Virginia, Houston, Utah State and Hawaii.

"I'm just happy to get the opportunity to pick to go or to stay," Van Noy said. "I'm very blessed."

■ HOFFMAN TO RETURN - Junior wide receiver Cody Hoffman says he will return to BYU for his senior season. Hoffman is on track to break Austin Collie's school records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

"The atmosphere, just having the support everywhere we go, it doesn't get better than this," the native of Crescent City, Calif., said. "I don't see why I wouldn't come back for my senior year."

■ HOOPS VS. HOKIES - BYU's men's basketball team meets Virginia Tech at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPNU (Cox 320). The game will be played at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. The Cougars (9-4) defeated Montana on Nov. 28. The Hokies (9-3) are coming off an 88-52 loss to Colorado State on Sunday in Las Vegas. BYU defeated Virginia Tech 70-68 last January in Blacksburg, Va.

■ MAX RETURNS - Former UNLV coach Max Good pulled off one of the biggest upsets of his career Jan. 19 when Loyola Marymount stunned BYU in Provo, 62-58. Good and the Lions return to the Marriott Center on Thursday to begin another season of West Coast Conference play. The game will be broadcast on BYUtv at 6 p.m. (Cox 352).

Dave McCann is a news anchor for KSL television in Salt Lake City and is play-by-play voice for BYU sports on BYUtv. He also is the host of True Blue, which airs at 5:30 p.m. Mondays on BYUtv. He can be reached at dmccann@ksl.com or on Twitter @DaveMcCannKSL.