By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

This time a year ago, Captain Shreve product John Hoyet Chance had just made his collegiate debut in his hometown by handling kickoff duties for Louisiana Tech as a true freshman walk-on in a 27-9 loss to Army at the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.

Now he’s one of the nation’s top punters and in the market for NIL money as a prize catch for some program out of the NCAA transfer portal.

Chance, a redshirt freshman left-footed punter and kicker who earned the nickname “Legatron” for his booming kicks, announced his entry into the portal with an Instagram post last week. He has three seasons left to play.

He earned the Bulldogs’ punting job in preseason and had a breakout year with a 47.3 average that ranks fifth nationally. He pinned foes inside the 20 with 28 punts and had a long of 72.

As Tech’s long-range placekicker, he made two field goals over 50 yards, including a 51-yarder shortly after halftime to start a 20-point surge that carried the Bulldogs to a 23-14 victory in last week’s I-Bowl victory over Coastal Carolina.

Chance was 4 of 7 overall on field goals and booted three extra points. He hit a 55-yard field goal early in the season.

He averaged 42.6 yards on eight punts, with two inside the 20, and allowed only three return yards while recording four touchbacks on six kickoffs in the bowl. Chance was presented the Delta Utilities Utility Player of the Game award.

In his social media announcement, Chance said he was “grateful to coach (Sonny) Cumbie … for the opportunity to play at LA Tech where I’ve made many special relationships with teammates and coaches.”

He was an All-State pick in 2024 as a senior for the Gators and a two-year all-district selection who set the Shreve record with a 78-yard punt. He was a three-year all-district baseball player.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com