Exclusive: Wyoming Kicker John Hoyland Makes NFL Jump with Baltimore
- Jeff Bugher
- 8 minutes ago
- 4 min read
John Hoyland trades his mountain views for a shot at the NFL dream.
The former University of Wyoming all-time leading scoring placekicker officially signed with the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, just days after participating in the team’s rookie minicamp. Hoyland, who was on many watch lists and conference teams through his collegiate career, is best known for his reliability and, of course, the red shoe that adorned his foot through the end of the 2023 season.
“I think this is a really good situation to be able to come into a great organization, learn more about kicking, and be able to just give them my best effort,” Hoyland said.
Though Hoyland went undrafted, he had multiple options. The Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens extended minicamp invites. The Baltimore Ravens rookie minicamp was held May 3-5, a week before Denver's. Once the Ravens offered him a contract, that Denver opportunity became irrelevant.
“I wasn't able to go to the Broncos after I signed, but yeah, I think this is a really good spot to be,” he said.
Building a Path from Laramie to Baltimore
Hoyland credits much of his growth and development to the coaching staff in Laramie.
“I think just the coaches kind of helped me out through there—Coach Craig Bohl, Coach Boyd on kickoff, Coach Shannon Moore on the social media and recruiting side, and Coach Jay Sawvel. They've all been really helpful, just laying out what they expect from me and making sure I’m competing at a high level,” Hoyland said.
After the conclusion of Wyoming’s 2024 football season, Hoyland focused entirely on the NFL transition. He traveled to Alabama to work with kicking coach Mike McCabe at One On One Kicking, and he also spent some time in California fine-tuning his technique.
“I was just being able to kind of refine my technique before I got to Baltimore,” he explained.
His March Wyoming Pro Day in Laramie didn’t hurt either.
“Pro Day felt really well. I went 10 for 10 on field goals… I felt really positive coming out of that,” he said. The Ravens clearly took notice, bringing him in for a private workout in Laramie before extending a minicamp invite.
The Call That Changed Everything
Following Hoyland's minicamp in Baltimore, he got a call from his agent.
“I thought at first he said, ‘Are you signing with Baltimore?’ and I was like, ‘I don’t know, am I?’ He said, ‘Yeah, they’re sending a contract to you,’” Hoyland recalled. “So yeah, just being able to come in here was awesome. I called my parents and kind of shared the news. It’s cool to tell people who supported you that all the work kind of paid off.”
He made sure to reach out to former Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel and others from the program to share the milestone.
“I just sent out a bunch of texts to the people that supported me along the way,” he said.
Learning in One of the NFL’s Best Special Teams Units…A Battle
How did Hoyland get a chance to prove himself in Baltimore? Veteran NFL record holding place kicker Justin Tucker became a household name while kicking for Baltimore. However, his field goal accuracy began slipping in 2024, along with the sexual abuse allegations that came to the surface (which Tucker has denied).
Ironically, the Ravens released the 13-year veteran on May 5th, the same time Hoyland was in Baltimore for minicamp.
In Baltimore, Hoyland joins kicker Tyler Loop who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft out of Arizona (yes…the Ravens drafted a kicker) and, of course, Hoyland spoke highly of his relationship with Loop, saying, “Tyler and I have a great relationship. He’s a great kicker and a great guy… We’re working out together, helping each other. It can only make us better.”
Asked about the potential competition for the lone kicker spot on the 53-man roster, Hoyland said it’s still too early to speculate on how things will play out.
“I think we’re just in the early days of it all. We’ll see how things shake out once we get more settled in,” he said.
No Red Shoe—For Now
Hoyland gained the moniker Red Shoe throughout the first four years of his collegiate career. However, last season, he swapped his red cleats—his trademark look—for a more traditional pair due to supply issues. But will the red shoes return in Baltimore?
“I’m not planning on it. We’ll see what they give me,” he said with a laugh. “I haven’t gone to any team-issued cleats yet, but I’ll wear what they give me.”
Keeping His Head Down, Eyes Forward
Hoyland is focused on staying healthy, refining his mechanics, and adjusting to the longer NFL season.
“Managing my workload is a big part of it… We’re very meticulous with how we operate. I think we’re in a great environment—one of the best special teams units in the NFL, if not the best—so they’re very detail-oriented, and I really appreciate that,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of kicking under the lights on Sunday Night Football in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills—a team led by fellow Wyoming alum Josh Allen—Hoyland kept his answer grounded.
“That would be cool,” he said. “I never had the opportunity to meet him [Josh Allen], but I think there’s a lot of guys in the NFL who played at Wyoming that I haven’t met yet. I’m not quite there yet. I’m just putting my head down and working to make that happen.”
Regardless of what happens next, Hoyland knows the opportunity itself is a reward—and a reflection of years of hard work.
“All the work paid off,” he said.