Matt Gay set to become Utes' seventh consensus all-America selection

Utah junior kicker Matt Gay has clinched consensus all-American honors after being named a first-team Sporting News all-American and a second-team American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) all-American.

The NCAA announces its official consensus all-America team Thursday, but Gay has solidified a spot by having earned first-team honors on three of the five teams used to determine consensus honors and having made the second team on the other two squads.

The consensus-qualifying teams are The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News, Walter Camp and AFCA.

Gay, an Orem High graduate who last week became the program’s first Lou Groza Award winner as the nation’s top placekicker, will become Utah’s seventh consensus all-American and the second kicker. He’ll join defensive lineman Luther Elliss (1994), offensive lineman Jordan Gross (2002), defensive back Eric Weddle (2006), kicker Louie Sakoda (2008) and punters Tom Hackett (2014 and 2015) and Mitch Wishnowsky (2016).

Gay was 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 led the nation in field goals made (27), field goals made per game (2.25), field goals or 50 yards or more (five, tied) and field goals attempted (31) during the regular season. He made 87 percent of his field-goal attempts, which ranked 11th in NCAA Division I.

Gay ranked ninth in the nation in scoring (9.8 points per game). He went 5 of 6 from 50 yards or more, 4 of 6 between 40 and 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.

With a bowl game upcoming, Gay already has set single-season school records for field goals and attempts, and his 118 points are the second most in a season. He is the first Utes kicker to make five field goals of 50 yards or longer in a season.