2020 Wyoming Cowboys football team

The 2020 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was suspended on August 10, 2020,[2] however, the Mountain West Conference board of directors later decided to play an eight-game season, starting on October 24.[3] The Cowboys played their home games at War Memorial Stadium as members of the Mountain West Conference. They were led by seventh-year head coach Craig Bohl.

2020 Wyoming Cowboys football
ConferenceMountain West Conference
2020 record2–4 (2–4 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrent Vigen (7th season)
Offensive schemeWest Coast Pro
Defensive coordinatorJay Sawvel (1st season)
Base defenseTampa 2
Home stadiumWar Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 29,181)
Uniform
2020 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 24 San Jose State y$  7 –0     7 –1  
Boise State y  5 –0     5 –2  
Nevada  6 –2     7 –2  
San Diego State  4 –2     4 –4  
Hawaii  4 –4     5 –4  
Fresno State  3 –3     3 –3  
Air Force  2 –2     3 –2  
Wyoming  2 –4     2 –4  
New Mexico  2 –5     2 –5  
Colorado State  1 –3     1 –3  
Utah State  1 –5     1 –5  
UNLV  0 –6     0 –6  
Championship: San Jose State 34, Boise State 20
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Mountain West suspended the season, but later decided to begin play on October 24.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Cowboys finished the 2019 season 8–5, 4–4 in Mountain West play to finish in fourth place in the Mountain Division. They played in the Arizona Bowl, where they defeated Georgia State 38–17.

2020 recruiting class

The Cowboys announced an early signing class of 18 high school student athletes on December 18, 2019.[4] A day later, the Cowboys added tackle Emmanuel Pregnon.[5] On February 5, 2020, the Cowboys added five more recruits.[6]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Doak Walker Award[7]Xazavian ValladayRBJR
Outland Trophy[8]Keegan CryderCJR
Maxwell Award[9]Xazavian ValladayRBJR

Mountain West media days

Mountain West media days were originally scheduled for July 16–17 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, but were canceled in favor of virtual media days due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] On July 20, the virtual media days were canceled.[11] The division predicted order of finish was released July 21, the preseason all-conference team was released on July 22, and preseason individual awards were released on July 23.

Wyoming was picked to finish 2nd in the Mountain Division in the Mountain West preseason poll.[12] The divisions were later suspended for the 2020 season.

Media poll
Mountain Division
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Boise State125 (20)
2Wyoming90 (1)
3Air Force86
4Utah State60
5Colorado State59
6New Mexico21

Preseason All-Mountain West
All-Mountain West Offense[13]
Position Player Class Team
RB Xazavian Valladay Jr. Wyoming
OL Keegan Cryder Jr. Wyoming

Personnel

Coaching Staff
NamePositionSeasons at
Wyoming		Alma materBefore Wyoming
Craig BohlHead Coach7Nebraska (1982)North Dakota State – Head Coach (2013)
Brent VigenAssociate Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks7North Dakota State (1998)North Dakota State – Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach (2013)
Jay SawvelDefensive Coordinator / Safeties1Mount Union (1993)Wake Forest – Defensive Coordinator / Cornerbacks Coach (2018)
Aaron BohlLinebackers4Minnesota State–Moorhead (2016)Wyoming – Graduate Assistant (2019)
Benny BoydCornerbacks1Aurora (2000)Eastern Illinois – Cornerbacks Coach / Special Teams Coach (2019)
Marty EnglishDefensive Ends1Northern Colorado (1986)Northern Colorado – Associate Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach (2019)
Mike GrantWide Receivers5Nebraska (1993)North Texas – Wide Receivers Coach / Receiving Coordinator (2014)
Gordie HaugRunning Backs / Director of Player Personnel7Bemidji State (2009)North Dakota State – Running Backs Coach (2013)
Pete KaligisDefensive Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Tackles / Nose Tackles12Washington (1994)Montana – Offensive Line Coach (2008)
Bart MillerRun-Game Coordinator / Offensive Line2New Mexico (1997)Ohio – Offensive Line Coach (2018)
Shannon MooreSpecial Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends / Fullbacks2Black Hills State (2000)East Carolina – Tight Ends Coach / Recruiting Coordinator (2018)
Eric DonovalDirector of Sports Performance / Head Football Strength and Conditioning3Wisconsin–La Crosse (2010)LSU – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach (2017)

Roster
2020 Wyoming Cowboys Football

Quarterback

  •  3 Gavin Beerup – Freshman (6'5", 190)
  • 12 Sean Chambers (C) – Sophomore (6'3", 225)
  • 15 Levi Williams – Freshman (6'5", 221)
  • 20 Ryan Marquez – Sophomore (6'1", 189)

Tailback

  •  6 Xazavian Valladay – Junior (6'0", 196)
  •  7 Trey Smith – Graduate (6'0", 218)
  • 21 Jeremy Hollingsworth – Freshman (5'9", 205)
  • 22 Joseph Braasch – Freshman (6'1", 205)
  • 23 Alphonzo Andrews Jr. – Freshman (5'10", 185)
  • 24 Brett Brenton – Sophomore (5'10", 199)
  • 30 Dawaiin McNeely – Freshman (6'2", 203)

Fullback

  • 32 Jahmari Moore – Senior (6'2", 236)
  • 34 Jeff Burroughs – Senior (6'1", 233)
  • 35 Skyler Miller – Senior (5'11", 234)
  • 36 Caleb Driskill – Freshman (6'2", 215)

Wide Receiver

  •  4 Devin Jennings – Freshman (6'2", 189)
  •  5 Isaiah Neyor – Freshman (6'3", 210)
  •  8 Dontae Crow – Senior (5'9", 178)
  •  9 Alex Brown – Freshman (6'4", 205)
  • 11 Wyatt Wieland – Sophomore (6'1", 186)
  • 14 Tyrese Grant – Freshman (6'0", 160)
  • 16 Gunner Gentry – Junior (6'3", 208)
  • 18 Joshua Cobbs – Freshman (6'4", 205)
  • 19 Ayden Eberhardt – Senior (6'2", 195)
  • 29 Chris Ndushabandi – Freshman (6'0", 173)
  • 85 Mason Gallegos – Sophomore (6'2", 168)
  • 87 Chance Hofer – Sophomore (6'0", 196)
  • 88 Max Mazurie – Freshman (5'10", 177)

Tight End

  • 80 Parker Christensen – Freshman (6'2", 225)
  • 81 Treyton Welch – Sophomore (6'3", 230)
  • 82 Jackson Marcotte – Sophomore (6'7", 257)
  • 84 Nate Weinman – Junior (6'7", 267)
  • 86 Nick Miles – Freshman (6'5", 250)
  • 87 Colin O'Brien – Sophomore (6'6", 235)
  

Offensive Lineman

  • 50 Jack Lookabaugh – Freshman (6'5", 302)
  • 53 Mana Taimani – Freshman (6'5", 315)
  • 55 Gavin Rush – Junior (6'3", 312)
  • 58 Latrell Bible – Freshman (6'4", 290)
  • 60 Marco Machado – Sophomore (6'4", 312)
  • 62 Rudy Stofer – Junior (6'6", 300)
  • 64 Kohl Herbolsheimer – Freshman (6'3", 275)
  • 65 Zach Watts – Sophomore (6'5", 302)
  • 66 Connor Shopp – Freshman (6'6", 263)
  • 68 Mason Schultz – Freshman (6'4", 265)
  • 69 Eric Abojei – Junior (6'5", 350)
  • 70 Malik Williams – Freshman (6'4", 265)
  • 71 Carlos Harrison – Freshman (6'4", 278)
  • 73 Keegan Cryder (C) – Junior (6'4", 309)
  • 74 Blayne Baker – Sophomore (6'5", 305)
  • 75 Frank Crum – Sophomore (6'7", 314)
  • 76 Emmanuel Pregnon – Freshman (6'6", 265)
  • 77 Nofoafia Tulafono – Freshman (6'2", 311)
  • 78 Alonzo Velazquez – Senior (6'6", 302)
  • 79 Logan Harris – Senior (6'3", 310)

Defensive Lineman

  • 29 Leevi Lafaele – Sophomore (6'2", 224)
  • 44 Victor Jones – Junior (6'4", 245)
  • 49 Teagan Liufau – Sophomore (6'3", 232)
  • 52 Jack Boyer – Sophomore (6'4", 220)
  • 59 Oluwaseyi Omotosho – Freshman (6'2", 225)
  • 63 Jason Davis – Junior (6'3", 336)
  • 76 Justis Borton – Senior (6'2", 282)
  • 85 Cameron Smith – Freshman (6'4", 230)
  • 86 Braden Siders – Freshman (6'3", 215)
  • 87 Akili Bonner – Freshman (6'4", 237)
  • 88 Garrett Crall (C) – Senior (6'5", 233)
  • 90 Gavin Meyer – Freshman (6'4", 240)
  • 91 Jaylen Pate – Freshman (6'3", 241)
  • 92 Alonzo Hall – Freshman (6'5", 240)
  • 93 DeVonne Harris – Freshman (6'4", 217)
  • 94 Cole Godbout – Sophomore (6'4", 274)
  • 95 Caleb Robinson – Freshman (6'2", 265)
  • 96 Jordan Bertagnole – Freshman (6'4", 254)
  • 98 Ravontae Holt – Junior (6'4", 287)
  

Linebackers

  •  7 Keonte Glinton – Freshman (5'10", 175)
  • 18 Keyon Blankenbaker – Junior (5'10", 175)
  • 24 Blake Harrington – Sophomore (5'11", 180)
  • 28 Easton Gibbs – Freshman (6'2", 216)
  • 31 Wyett Ekeler – Freshman (5'11", 189)
  • 33 Charles Hicks – Sophomore (6'3", 228)
  • 36 Brennan Kutterer – Junior (6'1", 211)
  • 38 Ray Rabou – Sophomore (6'2", 212)
  • 43 Shae Suiaunoa – Freshman (6'3", 227)
  • 45 Read Sunn – Freshman (6'2", 226)
  • 47 Brent VanderVeen – Freshman (6'2", 190)
  • 48 Chad Muma (C) – Junior (6'3", 227)
  • 53 Connor Shay – Freshman (6'2", 210)

Defensive Backs

  •  2 Cameron Murray – Sophomore (6'1", 175)
  •  4 Caleb Roberson – Freshman (5'11", 181)
  •  5 Esaias Gandy – Senior (6'1", 198)
  •  9 Keshaun Taylor – Freshman (6'0", 195)
  • 11 Xavier Carter – Freshman (6'0", 175)
  • 12 Cameron Stone – Freshman (5'10", 175)
  • 14 Miles Williams – Junior (6'1", 194)
  • 20 Azizi Hearn – Junior (6'1", 193)
  • 21 C.J. Coldon – Junior (6'1", 178)
  • 26 Braden Smith – Senior (5'10", 186)
  • 40 Taylor Dodd – Junior (6'2", 205)
  • 42 Isaac White – Freshman (6'1", 195)

Placekicker/Punter

  • 17 Nick Null – Graduate (5'11", 175)
  • 42 Luke Glassrock – Freshman (5'10", 181)

Longsnapper

  • 99 Jesse Hooper – Junior (5'11", 204)

COVID–19 Opt-Outs

  •  2 Titus Swen – Sophomore (5'11", 198)
  •  8 Rome Weber – Sophomore (5'11", 188)
  • 41 Davon Wells-Ross – Junior (6'5", 214)
  • 51 Solomon Byrd – Sophomore (6'4", 247)
  • 55 Claude Cole – Sophomore (6'4", 266)
  • 97 Mario Mora – Sophomore (6'3", 275)

Legend

  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Schedule

Wyoming announced its 2020 football schedule on February 26, 2020.[14] The 2020 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference announced the suspension of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][15] On September 25, the Mountain West Conference announced that they would be playing an eight-game schedule, to start October 24. The team's non conference games against Weber State, Louisiana, Utah, and Ball State remained canceled. Additionally, a game against Hawaii replaced a game against San Diego State. On November 8, the scheduled November 14 game against Air Force was canceled by the Mountain West Conference due to an uptick in COVID–19 cases within the Air Force football team and Academy.[16] On November 18, the scheduled November 19 game against Utah State was canceled by the Mountain West Conference due to rising COVID–19 cases in the Utah State program.[17]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
October 245:00 p.m.at Nevada
CBSSNL 34–37 OT250
October 307:45 p.m.Hawaii
FS1W 31–76,232
November 57:00 p.m.at Colorado State
CBSSNL 24–340
November 272:00 p.m.at UNLV
FS1W 45–140
December 58:30 p.m.at New Mexico
CBSSNL 16–170
December 124:00 p.m.Boise State
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
CBSSNL 9–172,978

Source[18]

Statistics

Team

Offense

Defense

Key: SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FF: Forced Fumbles, FR: Fumbles Recovered, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties

Special teams

Awards and honors

All–conference teams

All–Mountain West teams were announced on December 15, 2020.[19]

Honorable Mentions

  • Esaias Gandy, Sr., DB
  • Logan Harris, Sr., OL
  • Isaiah Neyor, Fr., WR

Game summaries

at Nevada
1 2 3 4OT Total
Cowboys 3 3 7 183 34
Wolf Pack 7 7 14 36 37
See also: 2020 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
  • Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 16–31, 227 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Carson Strong (NEV): 39–52, 420 YDS, 4 TD
  • Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 22 CAR, 87 YDS; Devonte Lee (NEV): 18 CAR, 65 YDS
  • Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 3 REC, 102 YDS; Cole Turner (NEV): 7 REC, 119 YDS, 2 TD

Hawaii
1 2 3 4 Total
Rainbow Warriors 0 7 0 0 7
Cowboys 10 0 7 14 31
See also: 2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team
  • Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 9–18, 112 YDS; Chevan Cordeiro (HAW): 11–26, 110 YDS, 1 INT
  • Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 32 CAR, 163 YDS, 2 TD; Miles Reed (HAW): 7 CAR, 54 YDS
  • Receiving leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 2 REC, 32 YDS; Zion Bowens (HAW): 1 REC, 47 YDS

at Colorado State
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 0 14 3 7 24
Rams 14 10 7 3 34
  • Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 19–31, 321 YDS, 1 INT; Patrick O'Brien (CSU): 18–26, 255 YDS, 2 TD
  • Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 28 CAR, 147 YDS, 1 TD; A'Jon Vivens (CSU): 14 CAR, 62 YDS
  • Receiving leaders: Ayden Eberhardt (WYO): 7 REC, 132 YDS; Dante Wright (CSU): 10 REC, 146 YDS

at UNLV
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 10 7 21 7 45
Rebels 0 7 0 7 14
See also: 2020 UNLV Rebels football team
  • Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 8–14, 99 YDS; Doug Brumfield (UNLV): 4–8, 93 YDS
  • Rushing leaders: Trey Smith (WYO): 24 CAR, 164 YDS, 1 TD; Max Gilliam (UNLV): 12 CAR, 63 YDS, 1 TD
  • Receiving leaders: Ayden Eberhardt (WYO): 3 REC, 42 YDS; Kyle Williams (UNLV): 4 REC, 71 YDS

at New Mexico
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 3 10 0 3 16
Lobos 0 10 0 7 17
See also: 2020 New Mexico Lobos football team
  • Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 4–12, 73 YDS, 1 INT; Isaiah Chavez (UNM): 5–10, 55 YDS, 1 TD
  • Rushing leaders: Trey Smith (WYO): 24 CAR, 154 YDS, 1 TD; Bobby Cole (UNM): 22 CAR, 131 YDS
  • Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 1 REC, 54 YDS; Bobby Cole (UNM): 2 REC, 53 YDS

Boise State
1 2 3 4 Total
Broncos 7 3 7 0 17
Cowboys 3 0 3 3 9
See also: 2020 Boise State Broncos football team
  • Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 3–13, 45 YDS; Hank Bachmeier (BSU): 19–28, 181 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 11 CAR, 59 YDS; Andrew Van Buren (BSU): 25 CAR, 79 YDS, 1 TD
  • Receiving leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 1 REC, 29 YDS; Khalil Shakir (BSU): 8 REC, 105 YDS

References
  1. "WE'RE BACK". twitter.com/MountainWest. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  2. "'This hurts': Wyoming players, administrators react to postponed football season". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  3. "2020 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL SEASON TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 24" (Press release). Colorado Springs, Colorado: Mountain West Conference. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  4. Seeman, Nick (18 December 2019). "2020 Wyoming Football Recruiting Class Stretches From East Coast to West Coast". GoWyo.com. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  5. Seeman, Nick (19 December 2019). "Wyoming Football Adds Talented Offensive Tackle Emmanuel Pregnon". GoWyo.com. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  6. Harkins, Tim (5 February 2020). "Wyoming Football Adds Five Dynamic Players to 2020 Recruiting Class". GoWyo.com. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  7. "2020 Doak Walker Award Candidates Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Dallas, Texas: Southern Methodist University. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  8. "2020 Outland Trophy Watch List Unveiled" (Press release). Dallas, Texas: Football Writers Association of American. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  9. "2020 Maxwell Award Watch List" (PDF) (Press release). Maxwell Football Club. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  10. Khan Jr., Sam (29 April 2020). "Mountain West, MAC planning virtual preseason media days". ESPN.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  11. "Mountain West Postpones 2020 Football Virtual Media Days" (Press release). Colorado Springs, Colorado: Mountain West Conference. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  12. "Boise State, San Diego State Picked to Win 2020 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles" (Press release). Colorado Springs, Colorado: Mountain West Conference. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  13. "2020 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team" (Press release). Colorado Springs, Colorado: Mountain West Conference. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  14. "Wyoming Football to Host One of the Best Home Schedules in School History in 2020". University of Wyoming. February 26, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  15. "Mountain West postpones football, fall sports". ESPN.com. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  16. Bonagura, Kyle (8 November 2020). "Air Force Falcons-Wyoming Cowboys game canceled due to COVID-19 uptick". ESPN.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  17. Potter, Davis (18 November 2020). "More COVID-19 issues cancel Wyoming's game against Utah State". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  18. "2020 Wyoming Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  19. "Mountain West Announces 2020 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors" (Press release). Colorado Springs, Colorado: Mountain West Conference. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
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