Former Wyoming Kicker Drills 44-Yard FG in UFL Debut

LARAMIE -- John Hoyland connected on 13 kicks from 40-to-49 yards during his five years at the University of Wyoming, including 6-of-7 during his senior season.

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He's perfect from that distance in his pro career.

The Cowboys' all-time leading scorer Saturday easily booted through a 44-yard attempt during his United Football League debut. Hoyland's lone opportunity of the afternoon came with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter of a 36-17 loss at Dallas.

His Houston Gamblers found the end zone twice in the second half, but head coach Kevin Sumlin, who was a wide receivers coach in Laramie from 1991-92, didn't call upon his 23-year-old placekicker to punch through the extra point, instead opting for a pair of 2-point conversion attempts.

Hoyland capped his Wyoming career with 366 points, overtaking the guy he replaced in 2020, Cooper Rothe, who finished with 342. The Broomfield, Colo., product, who benefited from an additional year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, also owns the school's record for field-goal makes (73) and attempts (92).

Hoyland missed just one extra point in college on 148 tries.

Former Wyoming cornerback Azizi Hearn also made his UFL debut Saturday, tallying five tackles in the DC Defenders 16-10 loss in St. Louis. Xazavian Valladay, the second-leading rusher in Cowboys history, is also on the active roster but did not see action inside The Dome at America's Center.

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Hearn played in Laramie from 2019-21, registering 80 tackles from the secondary in 32 games. He also broke up 13 passes. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Oceanside, Calif., native began his career at Arizona and finished at UCLA after his tenure on the high plains. Though he went undrafted in 2023, Hearn spent time in camp with the Raiders, Patriots, Panthers, Giants and, most recently, the Chiefs. He never appeared in an NFL game.

Valladay rushed for 3,281 yards and 19 touchdowns during a four-year stint at Wyoming from 2018-21. Only Brian Hill (4,287) finished with more yards.

Valladay, a Chicago product, added 584 receiving yards and two scores on 51 catches. He finished his career at Arizona State where he earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors. The 198-pound running back amassed 1,192 yards on the ground during his lone year in Tempe.

Valladay went undrafted in '23 but was eventually signed by the Houston Texans. He was also released by the Steelers, Jets, Saints and Vikings.