2018 Wyoming Cowboys football team

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

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

Roster

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

All–America teams

Keegan Cryder, Fr., C – Freshman All-American (FWAA)

All-star games

Carl Granderson – Senior Bowl

Andrew Wingard – East–West Shrine Game

Nico Evans – NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Statistics

Team

Offense

Defense

<small>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</small>

Special teams

Scores by quarter (all opponents)

Players in the 2019 NFL draft

References