Hollister football alum Joey Fernandez, who spent the last two years at Monterey Peninsula College, has signed with NCAA Division I San Jose State University.
Fernandez, an elite kicker and punter, owns the Baler field goal distance record and was a huge scoring weapon in his years on the team. Fernandez, who also ran track at Hollister, was a CalHiSports All-State Finalist as a combo specialist with the Balers.
The 5-11, 180-pound Fernandez, from the class of 2024, starred in high school play. Like many other preps, he was hindered by changes in college football rules, including those related to the transfer portal and unlimited transfers. That and other factors have limited the opportunities for high school athletes.
Fernandez wisely decided to attend community college and improve his skills and resume, while also growing older and stronger. He put in two fine years at Monterey Peninsula College, a strong program at the junior college level.
His talent, on-field results and work ethic have now resulted in a slot on an NCAA Division 1 team.
Fernandez stated that he chose SJSU to compete at a strong Division I football program. He complimented the coaching staff and the direction of the program, along with the opportunities on special teams. He added that SJSU is a strong academic fit and thus provides an ideal opportunity to develop at the next level in his home region.
SJSU’s primary kicker last season was Denis Lynch, who has graduated.
Fernandez was named the Balers’ special teams “Player of the Year” his last two seasons at Hollister High. Then-coach Bryan Smith recognized his skills and accomplishments, and stated he felt Fernandez was at the NCAA D1 level, but was not getting many looks from colleges.
The skills and on-field success were evident. In the 2023 season, against Valley Christian of the powerful West Catholic Athletic League on Sept. 8, Fernandez drilled a 51-yard field goal that was right down the middle and good by an extra 10 yards.
Later in the season, on Sept. 29, he was nails against rival Palma with field goals of 25, 38 and 46 yards. With the pressure at the ultimate, Fernandez coolly booted through the successful 46-yarder with just 1:44 to play to send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Hollister scored a touchdown and he kicked the extra point, but the Chieftains prevailed with a touchdown and successful two-point conversion.
Fernandez was both a kicker and a punter at MPC and was a two-year captain. He delivered a 36-yard game-winning overtime field goal to beat Foothill and helped lead the Lobos to the 2024 American Bowl championship.
Last season, he converted six field goals, including a game-winning 48-yarder. He also went 31-34 on extra points and averaged 40 yards per punt. MPC was 7-4 in 2025 and 11-0 in 2024.
Last year, Fernandez won the 2025 Sailer Kicking NorCal Competition and the 2025 San Jose Prospect Showcase’s kicking competition. Chris Sailer Kicking is the nation’s most prominent kicking academy. Sailer founded it after his career at UCLA, where he was named First-Team All-America, and a subsequent pro football career.
“At his high level of skill, we’re focused on making very minor adjustments to get a few percentages stronger and increase the probability of hitting his best ball more frequently,” Sailer Kicking coaches said.
Fernandez completed the package with stellar academics, being named to the dean’s list at MPC.
San Jose State, led by Coach Ken Niumatalolo, was 7-6 in 2024 and appeared in the post-season Hawaii Bowl. In that campaign, the Spartans knocked off Stanford 34-31 and Oregon State 24-13. During 2025, SJSU slipped back to a 3-9 mark.
The Spartans will open the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29 against USC in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Fernandez will be in blue-and-gold, wearing jersey No. 29.
