2017 Wyoming Cowboys football team explained

Mode:	football
Year:	2017
Team:	Wyoming Cowboys
Conference:	Mountain West Conference
Division:	Mountain Division
Short Conf:	MW
Record:	8–5
Conf Record:	5–3
Head Coach:	Craig Bohl
Hc Year:	4th
Off Coach:	Brent Vigen
Oc Year:	4th
Def Coach:	Scottie Hazelton
Dc Year:	1st
Off Scheme:	Pro-style
Def Scheme:	4–3
Stadium:	War Memorial Stadium
Champion:	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion
Bowl Result:	W 37–14 vs. Central Michigan

The 2017 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cowboys were coached by fourth-year head coach Craig Bohl and played their home games at War Memorial Stadium. They participated in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. This was their first year with new defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton, who was previously an NFL linebackers coach with Jacksonville Jaguars for three seasons and was also Bohl's defensive coordinator for two seasons at North Dakota State.^[1] They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for second place in the Mountain Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they defeated Central Michigan.

2017 recruiting class

Wyoming signed 23 high school players and one transfer.^[2]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Wyoming	Alma mater	Before Wyoming
	Head coach	4	Nebraska (1982)	North Dakota State – head coach (2013)
	Associate head coach / offensive coordinator / quarterbacks	4	North Dakota State (1998)	North Dakota State – Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks (2013)
	Defensive coordinator / Linebackers	1	Fort Lewis (1997)	Jacksonville Jaguars – Assistant linebackers (2016)
	Running Backs / Fullbacks	4	Miami, Ohio (2001)	Miami, Ohio – Interim Head Coach / offensive coordinator (2013)
AJ Cooper	Special teams coordinator / Defensive Ends	4	North Dakota State (2006)	North Dakota State – Defensive ends / Co-Special Teams (2013)
	Safeties	1	Wisconsin–Stevens Point (2007)	South Dakota State – Co-Special Teams / Safeties (2016)
Scott Fuchs	Offensive line	4	North Dakota State (1995)	North Dakota State (2013)
Mike Grant	Wide receivers	2	Nebraska (1993)	North Texas – Wide receivers / receiving coordinator (2014)
	Defensive tackles / Nose Tackles	9	Washington (1994)	Montana – Offensive line (2008)
John Richardson	Cornerbacks	4	North Dakota State (2010)	North Dakota State – Cornerbacks (2013)
Gordie Haug	Director of Recruiting	4	Bemidji State (2009)	North Dakota State – Running backs (2013)
	Defensive Graduate Assistant	1	Minnesota State Moorhead (2016)	Minnesota State Moorhead – Linebacker
Jacob Claborn	Offensive Graduate Assistant	2	California Lutheran (2009)	Central Washington – Offensive line (2015)
Josh Firm	Offensive Graduate Assistant	3	Missouri S&T (2013)	Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons – Offensive coordinator (2014)
Rob Schlaeger	Defensive Graduate Assistant	1	Southwest Minnesota State (2015)	West Florida – Outside linebackers (2016)

Roster

Statistics

source:^[3]

Team

Team Statistics
	Wyoming	Opponents
Points	305	228
First Downs	198	244
Rushing	76	128
Passing	105	98
Penalty	17	18
Rushing Yards	1414	2084
Rushing Attempts	446	599
Average Per Rush	3.2	3.5
Long	59	44
Rushing TDs	13	16
Passing Yards	2304	2274
Comp–Att	195–348	189–334
Comp %	56.0%	56.6%
Average Per Game	177.2	174.9
Average per Attempt	6.6	6.8
Passing TDs	18	11
INT's	8	20
Touchdowns	37	27
Passing	18	11
Rushing	13	16
Defensive	6	0
Interceptions	20	8
Yards	262	134
Total Offense	3718	4358
Total Plays	794	933
Average Per Yards/Game	286.0	335.2
Kick Returns: # – Yards	23–651	33–682
TDs	2	0
Long	97	38
Punts	88	65
Yards	3429	2892
Average	39.0	44.5
Punt Returns: # – Yards	23–236	25–118
TDs	0	0
Long	55	23
Fumbles – Fumbles Lost	12–6	28–18
Opposing TD's	27	37
Penalties – Yards	55–522	64–602
3rd–Down Conversions	60/181	75/205
4th–Down Conversions	9/14	15/26
Field Goals	15–18	13–17
Extra Point	36–37	27–27
Sacks	33	26
Sack Against	26	33
Yards	203	177

Offense

Passing Statistics
NAME	GP	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	TD	INT
Josh Allen	11	152	270	1812	56.3	16	6
Nick Smith	7	40	74	471	54.1	2	2
Austin Conway	13	2	2	22	100.0	0	0
TEAM	7	0	1	0	0.0	0	0
Austin Fort	8	1	1	-1	100.0	0	0

Rushing Statistics
NAME	GP	CAR	YDS	LONG	TD
Trey Woods	12	142	493	59	2
Kellen Overstreet	13	109	481	38	3
Josh Allen	11	92	204	22	5
Milo Hall	11	34	90	14	0
Austin Conway	13	15	70	40	1
Nick Smith	7	20	22	15	1
Nico Evans	13	11	19	10	0
Austin Fort	8	4	18	8	1
C. J. Johnson	13	2	15	16	0
Avante' Cox	7	2	14	9	0
Drew Van Maanen	13	2	5	5	0
Jaylon Watson	13	0	1	0	0
TOTALS	13	446	1733	59	13

Receiving Statistics
NAME	GP	REC	YDS	LONG	TD
Austin Conway	13	62	553	41	3
C.J. Johnson	13	30	531	53	7
James Price	10	20	282	40	1
John Okwoli	12	12	137	23	1
Josh Harshman	13	12	136	31	0
Tyree Mayfield	13	11	108	18	0
Austin Fort	8	10	119	25	3
Nico Evans	13	10	70	15	1
Drew Van Maanen	13	7	108	30	0
Avante' Cox	7	5	79	39	0
Milo Hall	11	5	21	9	0
Trey Woods	12	4	74	38	0
Kellen Overstreet	13	3	39	30	0
Jared Scott	8	2	40	23	2
Dontae Crow	5	1	5	5	0
TOTALS	13	195	2304	53	18

Defense

Defensive Statistics
	NAME	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL-YDS	SACKS	INT-YDS	BU	QBH	FR–YDS	FF	BLK	SAF
30	Logan Wilson	13	79	40	119	8.0–20	1.0–8	1–3	1	0	1–18	2	0	0
28	Andrew Wingard	13	70	44	114	8.0–17	1.0–1	5–54	3	0	1–0	2	0	0
91		13	37	40	77	16.0–61	9.5–50	2–43	0	4	1–58	2	0	1
46	Cassh Maluia	13	33	41	74	3.5–5	1.0–1	1–0	3	0	3–3	1	0	0
93	Youhanna Ghaifan	12	39	30	69	15.5–63	7.0–45	0–0	0	0	0–0	2	0	0
6	Marcus Epps	13	42	26	68	5.0–28	1.0–10	4–90	4	0	1–0	1	0	0
8	Jalen Ortiz	13	36	25	61	4.0–18	1.0–12	0–0	2	0	2–0	1	0	0
5	Rico Gafford	13	29	14	43	1.0–3	0.0–0	4–45	6	0	0–0	1	0	0
2	Robert Priester	13	28	11	39	4.0–7	1.0–2	0–0	4	0	0–0	2	0	0
42	Kevin Prosser	12	21	14	35	5.0–29	2.5–16	1–28	2	1	2–0	1	0	0
88	Garrett Crall	13	19	14	33	5.5–23	2.5–14	0–0	2	0	1–0	1	0	0
45	Adam Pilapil	8	15	16	31	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	1	0	0–0	0	0	0
9		13	19	11	30	0.5–1	0.0–0	2–(-1)	4	0	0–0	2	0	0
86	Javaree Jackson	11	8	16	24	1.5–1	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
53	Josiah Hall	12	12	12	24	2.5–10	0.5–5	0–0	0	1	0–0	0	0	0
96	Sidney Malauulu	7	7	15	22	1.5–7	1.0–6	0–0	0	0	2–0	0	0	0
58	Nela Lolohea	12	12	10	22	5.5–39	4.0–33	0–0	1	0	1–0	2	0	0
3	Alijah Halliburton	13	10	11	21	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	1	0	0–0	0	0	0
43	Ben Wisdorf	11	5	6	11	2.0–5	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
7	Chavez Pownell	13	6	4	10	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
98	Ravontae Holt	9	2	7	9	1.0–1	1.0–1	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
20	Esaias Gandy	12	4	4	8	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
23	Tim Kamana	13	5	2	7	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
87	Conner Cain	7	1	6	7	1.0–1	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	1	0	0
85	Tyree Mayfield	13	5	2	7	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	1–3	0	0	0
24	Braden Smith	11	4	2	6	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	1–0	1	0	0
54	Austin Lopez	13	2	2	4	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
22	Nico Evans	13	4	0	4	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
36	Drew Van Maanen	13	2	1	3	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	1–0	0	0	0
40	Cooper Rothe	13	1	2	3	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
50	Ryan Gatoloai-Faupula	7	1	2	3	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	1	0	0–0	0	0	0
26	Avante' Cox	7	3	0	3	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
59	Ryan Cummings	8	2	0	2	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
68	Dalton Fields	12	1	1	2	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
3	Milo Hall	11	2	0	2	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	1	0	0
1	Sidney Washington	2	2	0	2	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
52	Jahmari Moore	9	0	2	2	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
90	Kolton Donovan	2	0	1	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
76	Justis Borton	1	0	1	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
35	Jaylon Watson	13	0	1	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
33	Josh Harshman	13	1	0	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
72	Zach Wallace	13	1	0	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
67	Cole Turner	12	1	0	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
17	Josh Allen	11	0	1	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
80	James Price	10	1	0	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
29	Kellen Overstreet	13	0	1	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
14	C.J. Johnson	13	1	0	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
25	Austin Conway	13	1	0	1	0.0–0	0.0–0	0–0	0	0	0–0	0	0	0
	TOTAL	13	574	438	1012	91–339	33–203	20–262	35	6	18–82	23	0	1
	OPPONENTS	13	459	334	793	73–299	26–177	8–134	40	6	6–72	8	1	0

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

Interceptions Statistics
NAME	NO.	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG
Andrew Wingard	5	54	10.8	0	22
Marcus Epps	4	90	22.5	0	57
Rico Gafford	4	45	11.2	1	37
	2	43	21.5	0	37
	2	-1	-0.5	0	0
Cassh Maluia	1	0	0.0	0	0
Kevin Prosser	1	28	28.0	1	28
Logan Wilson	1	3	3.0	0	3
TOTALS	20	262	13.1	2	57

Special teams

Kicking Statistics
NAME	XPM	XPA	XP%	FGM	FGA	FG%	1–19	20–29	30–39	40–49	50+	LNG	PTS
Cooper Rothe	36	37	97.3%	15	18	83.3%	0–0	10–10	2–2	3–6	0–0	49	81
TOTALS	36	37	97.3%	15	18	83.3%	0–0	10–10	2–2	3–6	0–0	49	81

Kick Return Statistics
NAME	RTNS	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG
	15	508	33.9	2	97
Rico Gafford	2	44	22.0	0	24
Milo Hall	2	61	30.5	0	32
Garrett Crall	1	0	0.0	0	0
Adam Pilapil	1	1	1.0	0	1
Jaylon Watson	1	8	8.0	0	8
Nico Evans	1	29	29.0	0	29
TOTALS	23	651	28.3	2	97

Punting Statistics
NAME	PUNTS	YDS	AVG	LONG	TB	FC	I–20	50+	BLK
Tim Zaleski	87	3409	39.2	65	4	31	33	8	1
TEAM	1	20	20.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	88	3429	39.0	65	4	31	33	8	1

Punt Return Statistics
NAME	RTNS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Austin Conway	22	228	10.4	0	55
Dontae Crow	1	8	8.0	0	8
TOTALS	23	236	10.3	0	55

Scores by quarter (all opponents)

Awards and honors

All-Conference Teams

First Team

Youhanna Ghaifan, So., DL

Carl Granderson, Jr., DL

Andrew Wingard, Jr., DB

Second Team

Logan Wilson, So., LB

Rico Gafford, Sr., DB

Honorable Mention

Josh Allen, Sr., QB

Tyler Hall, So., Ret

Senior Bowls

Josh Allen – Senior Bowl

Rico Gafford – NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Box Scores

At Iowa

See also: 2017 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 23–40, 174 YDS, 2 INT; Nate Stanley (IOWA): 8–15, 125 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Milo Hall (UW): 9 CAR, 30 YDS; Akrum Wadley (IOWA): 24 CAR, 116 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Austin Conway (UW): 7 REC, 47 YDS; Nick Easley (IOWA): 4 REC, 77 YDS, 1 TD

Gardner–Webb

See also: 2017 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 22–32, 328 YDS, 2 TDS; Tyrell Maxwell (GWU): 2–7, 22 YDS, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Kellen Overstreet (UW): 14 CAR, 33 YDS; Tyrell Maxwell (GWU): 18 CAR, 68 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Austin Conway (UW): 11 REC, 135 YDS, 1 TD; James Ellis II (GWU): 1 REC, 12 YDS

Oregon

See also: 2017 Oregon Ducks football team.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 9–24, 64 YDS, 1 INT; Justin Herbert (ORE): 18–29, 251 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Milo Hall (UW): 11 CAR, 43 YDS; Royce Freeman (ORE): 30 CAR, 157 YDS, 3 TDS
• Receiving leaders: Austin Conway (UW): 4 REC, 27 YDS; Dillon Mitchell (ORE): 6 REC, 65 YDS

Hawaii

See also: 2017 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team and Hawaii–Wyoming football rivalry.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 9–19, 92 YDS, 1 TD; Dru Brown (UH): 29–40, 280 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT
• Rushing leaders: Trey Woods (UW): 15 CAR, 135 YDS, 1 TD; Diocemy Saint Juste (UH): 26 CAR, 120 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: Tyree Mayfield (UW): 2 REC, 27 YDS; John Ursua (UH): 8 REC, 102 YDS, 1 TD

Texas State

See also: 2017 Texas State Bobcats football team.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 14–24, 219 YDS, 3 TDS; Damian Williams (TSU): 10–19, 91 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Trey Woods (UW): 21 CAR, 53 YDS; Willie Jones III (TSU): 5 CAR, 57 YDS
• Receiving leaders: D.J. Johnson (UW): 4 REC, 57 YDS, 2 TDS; Hutch White (TSU): 2 REC, 42 YDS

At Utah State

See also: 2017 Utah State Aggies football team and Utah State–Wyoming football rivalry.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 18–26, 208 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Jordan Love (USU): 8–18, 109 YDS, 3 INT
• Rushing leaders: Trey Woods (UW): 15 CAR, 40 YDS; LaJuan Hunt (USU): 18 CAR, 73 YDS
• Receiving leaders: James Price (UW): 4 REC, 72 YDS; Dax Raymond (USU): 5 REC, 72 YDS

At Boise State

See also: 2017 Boise State Broncos football team.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 12–27, 131 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT; Brett Rypien (BSU): 12–17, 104 YDS
• Rushing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 18 CAR, 62 YDS 1 TD; Alexander Mattison (BSU): 17 CAR, 91 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Austin Conway (UW): 5 REC, 33 YDS; Cedrick Wilson Jr. (BSU): 5 REC, 66 YDS, 1 TD

New Mexico

See also: 2017 New Mexico Lobos football team.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 16–28, 234 YDS, 4 TD; Tevaka Tuioti (UNM): 8–17, 47 YDS, 3 INT
• Rushing leaders: Trey Woods (UW): 11 CAR, 25 YDS; Richard McQuarley (UNM): 13 CAR, 43 YDS
• Receiving leaders: James Price (UW): 4 REC, 68 YDS; Delane Hart–Johnson (UNM): 1 REC, 17 YDS

Colorado State

See also: 2017 Colorado State Rams football team and Border War (Colorado State–Wyoming rivalry).

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 10–20, 138 YDS; Nick Stevens (CSU): 8–14, 110 YDS
• Rushing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 12 CAR, 60 YDS; Dalyn Dawkins (CSU): 29 CAR, 154 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Austin Conway & C.J. Johnson (UW): 2 REC, 35 YDS; Dalton Fackrell (CSU): 2 REC, 61 YDS

At Air Force

See also: 2017 Air Force Falcons football team.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 8–11, 70 YDS, 1 TD; Arion Worthman (AFA): 10–22, 175 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Trey Woods (UW): 11 CAR, 47 YDS, 1 TD; Taven Birdow (AFA): 19 CAR, 82 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: Trey Woods (UW): 1 REC, 38 YDS; Marcus Bennet (AFA): 3 REC, 52 YDS, 1 TD

Fresno State

See also: 2017 Fresno State Bulldogs football team.

• Passing leaders: Nick Smith (UW): 20–32, 231 YDS, 1 TD; Marcus McMaryion (FSU): 14–23, 186 YDS, 1 TD
• Rushing leaders: Kellen Overstreet (UW): 10 CAR, 31 YDS; Josh Hokit (FSU): 21 CAR, 69 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Austin Conway (UW): 7 REC, 105 YDS; KeeSean Johnson (FSU): 6 REC, 48 YDS

At San Jose State

See also: 2017 San Jose State Spartans football team.

• Passing leaders: Nick Smith (UW): 17–37, 171 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT; Montel Aaron (SJSU): 15–29, 174 YDS, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Kellen Overstreet (UW): 17 CAR, 139 YDS; DeJon Packer (SJSU): 8 CAR, 75 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: C.J. Johnson (UW): 4 REC, 106 YDS, 1 TD; Tre Hartley (SJSU): 7 REC, 109 YDS

Vs. Central Michigan–Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

See also: 2017 Central Michigan Chippewas football team and 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

• Passing leaders: Josh Allen (UW): 11–19, 154 YDS, 3 TD; Shane Morris (CMU): 23–39, 329 YDS, 1 TD, 4 INT
• Rushing leaders: Kellen Overstreet (UW): 21 CAR, 85 YDS; Jonathan Ward (CMU): 12 CAR, 29 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: C.J. Johnson (UW): 3 REC, 63 YDS, 1 TD; Jonathan Ward (CMU): 7 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD

Players in the 2018 NFL draft

See also: 2018 NFL draft.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
		1	7
		UDFA	-	Tennessee Titans

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wyoming football names Scottie Hazelton defensive coordinator.
2. Web site: 2017 Wyoming Football Recruiting Class Announced. GoWyo.com. February 1, 2017. July 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170205081014/http://www.gowyo.com/news/2017-wyoming-football-recruiting-class-announced-02-01-2017. February 5, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
3. Web site: Wyoming Cowboys Combined Team Statistics (as of Jan 05, 2018). GoWyo.com.