The 2018 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming as a member Mountain West Conference (MW) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Craig Bohl, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 6–6 record with mark 4–4 in conference play, placing third in the MW's Mountain Division. Despite being bowl-eligible, Wyoming was not invited to a bowl game. The team played home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming.
Schedule
Preseason Award watch lists Chuck Bednarik AwardCarl GrandersonDESRAndrew WingardSSSRJim Thorpe AwardAndrew WingardSSSRBronko Nagurski TrophyYouhanna GhaifanDTJRCarl GrandersonDESRAndrew WingardSSSR Outland TrophyYouhanna GhaifanDTJRTed Hendricks AwardCarl GrandersonDESR
Mountain West media days During the Mountain West media days held July 24–25 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip, the Cowboys were predicted to finish in second place in the Mountain Division.
Preseason All-Mountain West Team The Cowboys had three players selected to the preseason all-Mountain West team. Strong safety Andrew Wingard was selected as the preseason defensive player of the year.
Defense
Youhanna Ghaifan – DT
Carl Granderson – DE
Andrew Wingard – SS
Game summaries
At New Mexico State
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 13–22, 137 YDS; Matt Romero (NMSU): 16–27, 140 YDS, 1 TD Rushing leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 24 CAR, 190 YDS, 2 TD; Jason Huntley (NMSU): 9 CAR, 22 YDS Receiving leaders: Austin Fort (WYO): 2 REC, 51 YDS; Drew Dan (NMSU): 2 REC, 60 YDS, 1 TD
Washington State
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 8–20, 67 YDS, 1 INT; Gardner Minshew (WSU): 38–57, 319 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 18 CAR, 89 YDS, 1 TD; James Williams (WSU): 16 CAR, 82 YDS, 1 TD Receiving leaders: James Price (WYO): 2 REC, 23 YDS; Jamire Calvin (WSU): 5 REC, 82 YDS
At Missouri
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 13–28, 160 YDS; Drew Lock (MIZ): 33–45, 398 YDS, 4 TD Rushing leaders: Jevon Bigelow (WYO): 18 CAR, 56 YDS, 1 TD; Damarea Crockett (MIZ): 19 CAR, 73 YDS Receiving leaders: James Price (WYO): 1 REC, 55 YDS; Emanuel Hall (MIZ): 10 REC, 171 YDS, 1 TD
Wofford
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 25–42, 224 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT; Joe Newman (WOF): 9–15, 73 YDS, 2 INT Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 15 CAR, 57 YDS; Lennox McAfee (WOF): 13 CAR, 91 YDS Receiving leaders: Austin Conway (WYO): 11 REC, 89 YDS; Blake Morgan (WOF): 6 REC, 48 YDS
Boise State
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 15–25, 214 YDS, 1 TD; Brett Rypien (BSU): 28–42, 342 YDS, 2 TD Rushing leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 12 CAR, 141 YDS, 1 TD; Alexander Mattison (BSU): 20 CAR, 57 YDS, 1 TD Receiving leaders: James Price (WYO): 2 REC, 77 YDS, 1 TD; A.J. Richardson (BSU): 6 REC, 113 YDS, 1 TD
At Hawaii
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 9–16, 87 YDS; Chevan Cordeiro (HAW): 19–29, 148 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 24 CAR, 192 YDS; Dayton Furuta (HAW): 16 CAR, 101 YDS Receiving leaders: James Price (WYO): 3 REC, 28 YDS; Marcus Armstrong-Brown (HAW): 6 REC, 49 YDS
At Fresno State
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 12–32, 117 YDS, 1 INT; Marcus McMaryion (FRES): 22–32, 287 YDS, 2 TD Rushing leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 18 CAR, 58 YDS; Marcus McMaryion (FRES): 7 CAR, 53 YDS, 1 TD Receiving leaders: Raghib Ismail Jr. (WYO): 2 REC, 46 YDS; Jared Rice (FRES): 7 REC, 94 YDS, 1 TD
Utah State
Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 3–5, 62 YDS; Jordan Love (USU): 12–28, 53 YDS, 1 INT Rushing leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 25 CAR, 133 YDS, 1 TD; Darwin Thompson (USU): 17 CAR, 109 YDS, 2 TD Receiving leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 2 REC, 40 YDS; Aaren Vaughns (USU): 2 REC, 14 YDS
At Colorado State
Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 7–10, 116 YDS, 2 TD; Collin Hill (CSU): 34–54, 333 YDS, 2 INT Rushing leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 28 CAR, 176 YDS, 1 TD; Marvin Kinsey Jr. (CSU): 5 CAR, 24 YDS, 2 TD Receiving leaders: James Price (WYO): 3 REC, 50 YDS; Preston Williams (CSU): 10 REC, 126 YDS
San Jose State
Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 4–8, 51 YDS, 1 TD; Josh Love (SJSU): 19–32, 173 YDS, 1 TD Rushing Leaders: Nico Evans (WYO): 33 CAR, 187 YDS, 1 TD; Tyler Nevens (SJSU): 17 CAR, 70 YDS Receiving Leaders: Austin Fort (WYO): 2 REC, 28 YDS, 1 TD; Josh Oliver (SJSU): 5 REC, 66 YDS
Air Force
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 14–26, 225 YDS, 2 TD; Donald Hammond III (AFA): 5–9, 53 YDS, 2 INT Rushing Leaders: Jevon Bigelow (WYO): 10 CAR, 36 YDS; Kadin Remsberg (AFA): 20 CAR, 128 YDS Receiving Leaders: Tyree Mayfield (WYO): 4 REC, 112 YDS; Marcus Bennett (AFA): 3 REC, 31 YDS
At New Mexico
Passing leaders: Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 4–17, 41 YDS; Coltin Gerhart (UNM): 2–14, 31 YDS, 1 INT Rushing Leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 22 CAR, 192 YDS, 2 TD; Tyrone Owens (UNM): 12 CAR, 18 YDS Receiving Leaders: Raghib Ismail Jr. (WYO): 1 REC, 15 YDS; Anu Somoye (UNM): 1 REC, 19 YDS
Personnel Coaching staff Name Position Seasons atWyoming Alma mater Before Wyoming Craig Bohl Head coach 5 Nebraska (1982) North Dakota State – Head coach (2013) Brent Vigen Associate head coach / offensive coordinator / quarterbacks 5 North Dakota State (1998) North Dakota State – Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach (2013) Scottie Hazelton Defensive coordinator / linebackers coach 2 Fort Lewis (1997) Jacksonville Jaguars – Assistant linebackers coach (2016) Mike Bath Co-Special teams coordinator / tight ends coach / fullbacks coach 5 Miami, Ohio (2001) Miami, Ohio – Interim head coach / offensive coordinator (2013) A. J. Cooper Co-Special teams coordinator / defensive ends coach 5 North Dakota State (2006) North Dakota State – Defensive ends coach / co-special teams coordinator (2013) Jake Dickert Safeties Coach 2 Wisconsin–Stevens Point (2007) South Dakota State – Co-special teams coordinator / safeties coach (2016) Scott Fuchs Offensive line coach 5 North Dakota State (1995) North Dakota State – Offensive line Coach (2013) Mike Grant Wide receivers coach 3 Nebraska (1993) North Texas – Wide receivers coach / receiving coordinator (2014) Gordie Haug Running backs coach / Director of player personnel 5 Bemidji State (2009) North Dakota State – Running backs coach (2013) Pete Kaligis Defensive tackles coach / nose tackles coach 10 Washington (1994) Montana – Offensive line Coach (2008) John Richardson Cornerbacks coach 5 North Dakota State (2010) North Dakota State – Cornerbacks Coach (2013) Ben Iannacchione Director of Sports Performance / head strength and conditioning coach 1 Boise State (2008) LSU – Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach (2017) Aaron Bohl Defensive Graduate Assistant 2 Minnesota State Moorhead (2016) Minnesota State Moorhead – Linebacker (2016) Jacob Claborn Offensive Graduate Assistant 3 California Lutheran (2009) Central Washington – Offensive line Coach (2015) Taylor Housewright Offensive Graduate Assistant 1 Ashland (2013) Ashland – Defensive backs coach / assistant recruiting coordinator (2017) Jalen Ortiz Defensive Graduate Assistant 1 Wyoming (2017) Wyoming – Linebacker (2017)
Roster 2018 Wyoming Cowboys FootballQuarterback 11 Nick Szpor – junior (6'3", 212) 12 Sean Chambers – freshman (6'3", 215) 15 Nick Smith – senior (6'4", 235) 18 Tyler Vander Waal – freshman (6'4", 220)
Tailback 4 Xazavian Valladay – freshman (6'0", 191) 6 Trey Woods – sophomore (6'3", 216) 7 Reow Jackson – freshman (6'2", 205) 21 Jevon Bigelow – freshman (6'2", 195) 22 Nico Evans (C) – senior (5'9", 211) 28 Theo Dawson – freshman (6'0", 220) 29 Kellen Overstreet – junior (5'11", 209)
Fullback 34 Jeff Burroughs – sophomore (6'1", 241) 35 Jaylon Watson – junior (6'0", 250) 52 Jahmari Moore – sophomore (6'2", 232) 54 Austin Lopez – sophomore (6'3", 234)
Wide receiver 2 Jared Scott – sophomore (6'6", 225) 5 Gunner Gentry – freshman (6'3", 208) 8 Dontae Crow – sophomore (5'9", 178) 9 Isaac Leppke – sophomore (6'4", 198) 13 John Okwoli – junior (6'2", 210) 14 C.J. Johnson – junior (6'2", 209) 17 Raghib Ismail Jr. – junior (6'0", 186) 19 Ayden Eberhardt – sophomore (6'2", 195) 25 Austin Conway – junior (5'10", 183) 26 Avante' Cox – sophomore (5'11", 171) 39 Justyn Stindt – freshman (6'2", 192) 80 James Price – senior (6'2", 212) 88 Camron Donatlan – freshman (6'2", 195)
Tight end 33 Josh Harshman – senior (6'3", 230) 81 Austin Fort (C) – senior (6'4", 244) 82 Jackson Marcotte – freshman (6'7", 250) 83 Mason Keeler – freshman (6'6", 248) 84 Nate Weinman – freshman (6'7", 260) 85 Tyree Mayfield – senior (6'3", 241) Offensive linemen 55 Gavin Rush – junior (6'3", 305) 57 Patrick Arnold – freshman (6'3", 296) 61 Kaden Jackson – senior (6'2", 303) 62 Rudy Stofer – freshman (6'6", 297) 63 Jason Davis – freshman (6'3", 342) 64 Zach Thatcher – sophomore (6'5", 288) 65 Zach Watts – freshman (6'5", 280) 69 Eric Abojei – freshman (6'5", 351) 72 Zach Wallace – senior (6'7", 314) 73 Keegan Cryder – freshman (6'4", 283) 74 Blayne Baker – freshman (6'5", 260) 75 Frank Crum – freshman (6'7", 260) 76 Justis Borton – sophomore (6'2", 272) 77 Pahl Schwab – junior (6'5", 308) 78 Alonzo Velasquez – sophomore (6'6", 305) 79 Logan Harris – sophomore (6'3", 304)
Defensive linemen 41 Davon Wells-Ross – freshman (6'5", 205) 42 Kevin Prosser – senior (6'2", 227) 44 Victor Jones – freshman (6'4", 256) 51 Payton Lowry-Sanders – senior (6'2", 236) 53 Josiah Hall – junior (6'1", 251) 86 Javaree Jackson – sophomore (6'5", 288) 87 Conner Cain (C) – senior (6'4", 270) 88 Garrett Crall – sophomore (6'5", 242) 90 Gavin Dunayski – freshman (6'6", 249) 91 Carl Granderson – senior (6'5", 261) 92 Solomon Byrd – freshman (6'4", 220) 93 Youhanna Ghaifan (S) – junior (6'4", 282) 94 Cole Godbout – freshman (6'4", 250) 95 De'Vaughn Brown – freshman (6'3", 220) 96 Sidney Malauulu – senior (6'3", 293) 97 Mario Mora – freshman (6'3", 255) 98 Ravontae Holt – sophomore (6'4", 262)
Placekickers 40 Cooper Rothe – junior (5'11", 178) 41 Ryan Galovich – junior (6'0", 192)
Punter 27 Tim Zaleski – sophomore (6'5", 221)
Long snapper 99 Jesse Hooper – freshman (5'11", 227) Linebackers 7 Chavez Pownell Jr. – senior (5'11", 205) 9 Tyler Hall – junior (5'10", 190) 30 Logan Wilson (C) – junior (6'2", 250) 33 Leevi Lafaele – freshman (6'2", 220) 34 Charles Hicks – freshman (6'3", 220) 35 Skyler Miller – sophomore (5'11", 214) 37 Josh Calvert – sophomore (6'0", 264) 43 Ben Wisdorf – junior (6'1", 230) 45 Adam Pilapil – senior (6'1", 220) 46 Cassh Maluia – junior (6'0", 248) 48 Chad Muma – freshman (6'3", 213) 50 Ryan Gatoloai-Faupula – sophomore (6'1", 216) 55 Ryan Mazzola – freshman (6'2", 238)
Defensive backs 2 Cameron Murray – freshman (6'1", 170) 3 Alijah Halliburton – junior (6'2", 190) 4 Antonio Hull – junior (5'10", 188) 5 Esias Gandy – sophomore (6'1", 193) 6 Marcus Epps (C) – senior (6'0", 197) 8 Rome Weber – freshman (5'11", 175) 12 Ja'Lani Ellison – freshman (6'0", 171) 13 Brennan Kutterer – freshman (6'1", 206) 14 Miles Williams – freshman (6'1", 192) 16 Riley Sessions – sophomore (5'11", 200) 18 Keyon Blankenbaker – freshman (5'10", 175) 21 C.J. Coldon – freshman (6'1", 183) 22 Sidney Washington Jr. – sophomore (5'9", 170) 24 Braden Smith – sophomore (5'10", 195) 28 Andrew Wingard (C) – senior (6'0", 214) 29 Quinten Mercardo – senior (5'10", 188) 31 Dauson Booker – freshman (6'0", 190) 40 Taylor Dodd – freshman (6'2", 197)
Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
2018 recruiting class The Cowboys announced an early signing class of 20 high school student-athletes on December 20. On February 24, they announced the signing of two more student-athletes.
Awards and honors All-conference teams First Team
Nico Evans, Sr., RB
Andrew Wingard, Sr., DB
Cooper Rothe, Jr., PK
Second Team
Carl Granderson, Sr., DL
Honorable Mention
Tyler Hall, Jr., CB
Logan Wilson, Jr., LB
Conference awards Cooper Rothe – Special teams Player of the Year