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Former Hollister High School football standout Joey Fernandez signed with San José State’s NCAA Division I football program earlier this summer and is now in full preseason training mode.
“It’s not common to see people go to a Division I school out of Hollister,” Fernandez said. “I used the strength and commitment of wanting to prove people wrong and show this is the level I deserve to be playing at.”
Before playing football for the Haybalers, Fernandez played soccer for the Hollister Tremors for 11 years. The COVID-19 pandemic halted his soccer career and introduced him to football.
Fernandez, a kicker and punter, holds the record for the longest field goal in Baler football history with a 51-yard kick. Despite his achievement, Fernandez did not receive much attention from Division I colleges during his high school career and chose to continue playing football at the junior college level.
Fernandez said he felt ready to play at the Division I level out of high school and used the experience of being overlooked by recruiters as motivation to continue improving.
Fernandez spent two years at Monterey Peninsula College, where he served as a team captain for two seasons and played in 21 games for the Lobos.
Over two seasons, Fernandez made 11 of 19 field goal attempts for a 57.9% field goal percentage. His longest field goal for the Lobos was 48 yards. He also made 54 of 60 extra-point attempts for a 90% conversion rate and scored 87 points.
As a punter, Fernandez logged 71 punts for 2,734 yards over two seasons, averaging about 40 yards per punt. His longest punt was 59 yards, which came during his first season with the Lobos. He also recorded 22 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
After helping lead the Lobos to an 11-0 season and an American Bowl championship in 2024, Fernandez began receiving interest from multiple Division I football programs, including Northern Arizona University, Idaho State University, the University of New Mexico, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and San José State.
Fernandez said he chose San José State because of the coaching staff, the school’s proximity to home and its top-of-the-line facilities.
“I love the coaches, I love the players around me,” he said. “It’s a good, positive environment.”
Fernandez also said his transition from junior college to Division I football has been “extremely easy,” despite the difference in pace and intensity between the programs.
Although he is not the starting kicker or punter for the Spartans this season, Fernandez said his goal is to continue improving and prepare himself for next season.
“I’m not worried about really playing right now, I’m worried about getting all the finishing touches right before next season, so I am that guy next season,” he said. “I want to help the team win games.”
Fernandez said he is excited about visiting new stadiums and playing in front of thousands of people.
Fernandez will wear No. 29 for the Spartans this upcoming season.
The Spartans open their season on Aug. 29 against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The team will host its home opener against the Cal Poly Mustangs on Sept. 12 at CEFCU Stadium.
BenitoLink thanks our underwriter, Hollister Rotary, for helping expand the sports coverage around San Benito County. Rotary is a nonprofit organization that conducts humanitarian projects, encourages high ethical standards, and works toward world understanding. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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