Wyoming boasts fourth-most NFL players from Mountain West Conference
LARAMIE -- Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills kicked off the NFL season Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Rams in Los Angeles.
The former Wyoming gunslinger is a preseason favorite to claim the league's MVP Award this fall. Can he bring Western New York that elusive first Lombardi Trophy? Time will tell.
What we do know is there are plenty of Cowboys littering pro rosters in 2022, something we have all grown accustomed to around these parts. Ten of those guys are currently cashing checks with the NFL logo on them, the fourth most when it comes to Mountain West Conference programs. (San Diego State 16, Boise State 13, Utah State 12, Wyoming 10, Colorado State 9, Fresno State 9, San Jose State 6, Nevada 5, Air Force 3, Hawaii 2, New Mexico 2, UNLV 1). There are currently 55 active players in the league who played in the Mountain West.
Here are the Wyoming guys:
* Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
The Firebaugh, Calif., product enters year five in Orchard Park, and like mentioned above, expectations are sky high. Allen, who finished No. 2 in the MVP voting last season, led the Bills to the second round of the AFC Playoffs last January. Allen threw for 4,407 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also added 763 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. Buffalo travels to Los Angeles Thursday night to take on the Rams inside SoFi Stadium.
* Logan Wilson - Cincinnati Bengals
In just his second professional season, the Casper native registered 100 tackles for the upstart Cincinnati Bengals, who stunned the football world after knocking off Kansas City inside Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC title game before punching their ticket to Super Bowl LVI. Wilson added a team-high four interceptions last fall to go along with a sack and a forced fumble. In four playoff games, Wilson tallied 39 tackles and a pick. The Bengals open the season at home Sunday against rival Pittsburgh.
* Chase Roullier - Washington Commanders
This guy has staked his claim as one of the top centers in all of football. Roullier enters his sixth NFL season after missing the Commanders' final nine games of the season with a fractured left fibula. Washington will host Jacksonville Sunday afternoon.
* Chad Muma - Jacksonville Jaguars
The Lone Tree, Colo., product was selected No. 70 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 239-pound middle linebacker will see his first pro action this Sunday when the Jags travel to Washington for the season opener.
* Andrew Wingard - Jacksonville Jaguars
The safety from Arvada, Colo., is coming off his best NFL season. Last fall, Wingard tallied a career-best 88 tackles out of the Jaguars' secondary. He also picked off a pass and tacked on a sack. Wingard is entering his fourth season in Jacksonville.
* Marcus Epps - Philadelphia Eagles
Speaking of former UW safeties that are coming off a career year. Epps, who, like Wingard, is also entering his fourth NFL season, registered 62 tackles and a pick out of the Eagles' secondary in 2021. The 6-foot, 198-pound Los Angeles product will open his season Sunday in Detroit against the Lions.
* Carl Granderson - New Orleans Saints
This 6-foot-5, 261-pound defensive end finished the 2021 campaign with a career-high 25 tackles. He also tacked on three quarterback sacks. Granderson, a Sacramento, Calif., product, is entering his fourth NFL season. The Saints open the year Sunday on the road against rival Atlanta.
* Mike Purcell - Denver Broncos
Purcell played in just 10 games last season due to injuries. The 6-foot-3, 328-pound defensive tackle tallied just 33 tackles and recovered a fumble. The second-longest tenured former Poke in the pros is entering his seventh NFL season since being signed by San Francisco in 2013 as an undrafted free agent. The Broncos open the season Monday night in Seattle.
* Tashaun Gipson - San Francisco 49ers
The most tenured former Cowboy in the NFL was signed by the 49ers during training camp. He didn't make the initial 53-man roster and will start his 11th season in the NFL on the San Francisco practice squad. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound safety played in Chicago in 2021. He appeared in 12 games, recording 47 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a sack. Gipson has 27 career interceptions. The Niners will open the 2022 campaign in the Windy City Sunday afternoon.
* Tanner Gentry - Buffalo Bills
The 6-foot-2, 209-pound wideout just won't go away. Though Gentry will begin the 2022 season on the Bills' practice squad, he has carved out a nice career for himself, entering his fourth NFL season after going undrafted in 2017. The Colorado product spent one season with the New York Gladiators of the XFL.
* Wyoming players that were in the NFL last season but remain unsigned: Brian Hill, Eddie Yarbrough, Tyler Hall, Austin Fort, Rico Gafford, Jacob Hollister.
University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
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