2021 Wyoming Cowboys football team explained

Mode:	football
Year:	2021
Team:	Wyoming Cowboys
Conference:	Mountain West Conference
Short Conf:	MW
Record:	7–6
Conf Record:	2–6
Head Coach:	Craig Bohl
Hc Year:	8th
Off Coach:	Tim Polasek
Oc Year:	1st
Off Scheme:	Pro-style, West Coast
Def Coach:	Jay Sawvel
Dc Year:	2nd
Def Scheme:	Tampa 2
Stadium:	War Memorial Stadium
Champion:	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion
Bowl:	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Bowl Result:	W 52–38 vs. Kent State

The 2021 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cowboys were led by eighth-year head coach Craig Bohl and played their home games at War Memorial Stadium. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. The Cowboys finished the season 7-6, 2-6 in Mountain West play to finish fourth in the Mountain Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, where they defeated Kent State.

Offseason

2021 recruiting class

Wyoming signed 19 players to scholarships during their recruiting period.^[1]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Maxwell Award^[2]		RB	JR
Chuck Bednarik Award^[3]	Chad Muma	LB	JR
Doak Walker Award^[4]	Xazavian Valladay	RB	JR
Butkus Award^[5]	Chad Muma	LB	JR
Outland Trophy^[6]	Keegan Cryder	C	JR
Lou Groza Award^[7]	John Hoyland	PK	FR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award^[8]	Sean Chambers	QB	JR

Mountain West media days

Mountain West media days were held on July 21 and 22 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Wyoming was picked to finish second in the Mountain Division in the Mountain West preseason poll.^{[9] [10]}

Media poll

Mountain Division
1	Boise State	148 (23)
2	Wyoming	115 (2)
3	Air Force	104
4	Colorado State	72
5	Utah State	47
6	New Mexico	39

Preseason All–Mountain West

All-Mountain West Offense! Position! Player! Class! Team

RB	Xazavian Valladay	JR	Wyoming
OL	Keegan Cryder	JR	Wyoming

All-Mountain West Defense! Position! Player! Class! Team

LB	Chad Muma	JR	Wyoming

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Wyoming	Alma mater	Before Wyoming
	Head coach	8	Nebraska (1982)	North Dakota State – Head coach (2013)
Tim Polasek	Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks	1	Concordia (2002)	Iowa – Offensive line (2020)
	Defensive coordinator / Safeties	2	Mount Union (1993)	Wake Forest – Defensive coordinator / cornerbacks coach (2018)
	Linebackers	5	Minnesota State–Moorhead (2016)	Wyoming – Graduate assistant (2018)
Benny Boyd	Cornerbacks / co-special teams coordinator	2	Aurora (2000)	Eastern Illinois – Cornerbacks Coach / special teams coach (2019)
Marty English	Defensive ends	2	Northern Colorado (1986)	Northern Colorado – Associate head coach / defensive coordinator / linebackers coach (2019)
Derek Frazier	Offensive line	1	Northern Colorado (1997)	New York Jets – Assistant Offensive Line (2020)
Mike Grant	Offensive passing game coordinator / wide receivers	6	Nebraska (1993)	North Texas – Wide receivers coach / receiving coordinator (2014)
Gordie Haug	Running backs / Director of player personnel	8	Bemidji State (2009)	North Dakota State – Running backs coach (2013)
	Defensive run game coordinator / Defensive tackles / Nose Tackles	13	Washington (1994)	Montana – Offensive line coach (2008)
Shannon Moore	Tight ends / Fullbacks / co-special teams coordinator	3	Black Hills State (2000)	East Carolina – Tight ends coach / recruiting coordinator (2018)
Eric Donoval	Director of Sports Performance / Head Football Strength and Conditioning	4	Wisconsin–La Crosse (2010)	LSU – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach (2017)

Roster

Source^[11]

Schedule

Source^{[12] [13] [14]}

Statistics

Team

Team Statistics
	Wyoming	Opponents
Points	330	308
First Downs	250	254
Rushing	132	121
Passing	96	117
Penalty	22	16
Rushing Yards	2742	2348
Rushing Attempts	543	514
Average Per Rush	5.0	4.6
Long	98	75
Rushing TDs	24	17
Passing yards	2115	2467
Comp–Att	162–297	220–378
Comp %	54.5%	58.2%
Average Per Game	162.7	189.8
Average per Attempt	7.1	6.5
Passing TDs	15	21
INT's	12	10
Touchdowns	43	38
Passing	15	21
Rushing	24	17
Defensive	3	0
Interceptions	10	12
Yards	138	145
Total Offense	4857	4815
Total Plays	840	892
Average Yards/Game	373.6	370.4
Kick Returns: # – Yards	20–460	28–578
TDs	1	0
Long	99	72
Punts	57	58
Yards	2415	2505
Average	42.4	43.2
Punt Returns: # – Yards	12–46	16–146
TDs	0	0
Long	12	31
Fumbles – Fumbles Lost	17–6	10–5
Penalties – Yards	66–584	63–516
3rd–Down Conversions	75/173 (43.4%)	79/189 (41.8%)
4th–Down Conversions	7/20 (35.0%)	8/25 (32.0%)
Field Goals	10–14	16–23
Sacks	24	22
Yards	167	144

Offense

Passing Statistics
NAME	GP	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	TD	INT	RAT
Sean Chambers	9	90	177	1,125	50.8	6	7	107.5
Levi Williams	9	72	120	990	60.0	9	5	145.7
Totals	13	162	297	2,115	54.5	15	12	122.9

Rushing Statistics
NAME	GP	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Xazavian Valladay	13	209	1,060	5.1	74	6
Titus Swen	13	132	785	5.9	98	7
Levi Williams	9	72	482	6.7	80	5
Sean Chambers	9	71	209	2.9	20	3
Dawaiian McNeely	11	17	113	6.6	18	1
Trey Smith	11	14	87	6.2	49	1
	13	12	23	1.9	8	1
Ayden Eberhardt	8	3	9	3.0	6	0
Jeremy Hollingsworth	6	1	2	2.0	2	0
Tyrese Grant	6	2	-11	-5.5	0	0
Team	13	9	-17	-1.9	0	0
Totals	13	543	2,724	5.0	98	24

Receiving Statistics
NAME	GP	REC	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Isaiah Neyor	13	44	878	20.0	74	12
Joshua Cobbs	11	25	245	9.8	24	1
Xazavian Valladay	13	22	228	10.4	40	0
Ayden Eberhardt	8	21	298	14.2	32	0
Treyton Welch	12	19	163	8.6	32	2
Parker Christensen	13	13	127	9.8	16	0
Titus Swen	13	5	24	4.8	9	0
Wyatt Wieland	13	4	60	15.0	23	0
Alex Brown	9	3	33	11.0	19	0
Colin O'Brien	11	2	27	13.5	17	0
Trey Smith	11	1	15	15.0	15	0
Rome Weber	12	1	6	6.0	6	0
Jackson Marcotte	8	1	6	6.0	6	0
Totals	13	161	2,110	13.1	74	15

Defense

Defensive Statistics
	NAME	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL-YDS	SACKS	INT	BU	QBH	FR	FF	BLK	SAF
48	Chad Muma	13	85	57	142	8.0–21	1.5	3	1	2	1	0	1	0
28	Easton Gibbs	13	51	39	90	7–32	2	0	4	1	0	1	0	0
94	Cole Godbout	13	39	31	70	7–31	5	0	5	5	0	0	0	0
21	C.J. Coldon	13	48	20	68	4.5–15	1	0	10	0	1	0	0	0
88	Garrett Crall	13	24	20	44	6–23	2.5	0	2	4	0	0	0	0
5	Esaias Gandy	10	27	17	44	1.5–4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Rome Weber	12	35	7	42	3–16	0.5	1	3	1	0	1	0	0
96	Jordan Bertagnole	13	20	18	38	3.5–11	0.5	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
51		8	21	16	37	3.5–19	3.5	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
42	Isaac White	13	26	9	35	2–8	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0
18	Keyon Blankenbaker	11	24	9	33	1–3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
20		13	22	8	30	0–0	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
26	Braden Smtih	13	20	8	28	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
44	Victor Jones	13	16	8	24	4.5–32	3.5	1	2	1	0	1	0	0
91	Jaylen Pate	13	14	6	20	1–4	0.5	0	1	2	1	0	0	0
95	Caleb Robinson	10	11	6	17	1–2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
98	Ravontae Holt	6	6	4	10	2.5–13	0	0	3	0	0	0	0
6	Keonte Glinton	11	9	1	10	0–0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0
12	Cameron Stone	12	7	1	8	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
54	Sabastian Harsh	13	5	2	7	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	Wyett Ekeler	11	5	0	5	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Trey Smith	11	5	1	6	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Miles Williams	7	5	0	5	0–0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
93	DeVonne Harris	10	2	2	4	0–0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
49	Teagan Liufau	13	1	3	4	0.5–2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
43	Shae Suiaunoa	13	1	3	4	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
53	Connor Shay	12	1	2	3	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
36	Caleb Driskill	13	1	2	3	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	Caleb Cooley	13	2	1	3	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Wyatt Wieland	13	2	0	2	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
52	Jack Boyer	1	0	2	2	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
15	Levi Williams	9	2	0	2	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	Blake Harrington	12	2	0	2	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Xazavian Valladay	13	2	0	2	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Sean Chambers	9	2	0	2	0–0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
30	Buck Coors	4	1	0	1	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
27	Ralph Fawaz	13	1	0	1	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Cameron Murray	10	0	1	1	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
90	Gavin Meyer	6	1	0	1	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
59	Oluwaseyi Omotosho	3	0	1	1	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
73	Keegan Cryder	13	1	0	1	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
19	Ayden Eberhardt	8	1	0	1	0–0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	13	548	306	854	57–251	24	10	39	22	6	5	1	0
	Opponents	13	501	328	829	57–222	22	12	37	10	6	9	0	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
Chad Muma	3	68	22.7	2	45
Keyon Blankenbaker	1	50	50.0	1	50
Esaias Gandy	1	7	7.0	0	7
Victor Jones	1	3	3.0	0	3
Rome Weber	1	0	0.0	0	0
Miles Williams	1	10	10.0	0	10
Keonte Glinton	1	0	0.0	0	0
Isaac White	1	0	0.0	0	0
Totals	10	138	13.8	3	50

Special teams

Kick Return Statistics
NAME	RTNS	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG
Titus Swen	10	186	18.6	0	26
Cameron Stone	5	200	40.0	1	99
Rome Weber	2	45	22.5	0	38
Xazavian Valladay	1	0	0.0	0	0
Wyatt Wieland	1	23	23.0	0	23
Nick Miles	1	6	6.0	0	6
Totals	20	460	23.0	1	99

Punt Return Statistics
NAME	RTNS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Ayden Eberhardt	11	37	3.4	0	12
Caleb Cooley	1	9	9.0	0	9
Totals	12	46	3.8	0	12

Awards and honors

All–conference teams

All-Mountain West teams were announced on November 30, 2021.

Position	Player	Class
First Team Defense
LB	Chad Muma	SR

Position	Player	Class
Second Team Offense
RB	Xazavian Valladay	SR
OL	Keegan Cryder	SR
WR	Isaiah Neyor	SO
Second Team Defense
CB	C.J. Coldon	JR

Honorable Mentions

• Garrett Crall, Sr., DL
• Cole Godbout, Jr., DL
• Logan Harris, Sr., OL

All–America Teams

• Chad Muma, Sr., LB – 2nd Team (WCFF), 3rd Team (AP)

Senior Bowls

• Chad Muma, Sr., LB – Senior Bowl

Game summaries

No. 12 (FCS) Montana State

See also: 2021 Montana State Bobcats football team.

• Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 15–26, 196 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Matthew McKay (MTST): 19–28, 200 YDS, 2 TD
• Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 19 CAR, 77 YDS, 1 TD; Isaiah Ifanse (MTST): 16 CAR, 103 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Ayden Eberhardt (WYO): 4 REC, 71 YDS; Lance McCutcheon (MTST): 5 REC, 71 YDS, 1 TD

At Northern Illinois

See also: 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team.

• Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 13–23, 204 YDS, 2 TD; Rocky Lombardi (NIU): 19–36, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT
• Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 21 CAR, 101 YDS, 1 TD; Harrison Waylee (NIU): 26 CAR, 179 YDS, 2 TD
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 4 REC, 87 YDS, 2 TD; Cole Tucker (NIU): 6 REC, 72 YDS

Ball State

See also: 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team.

• Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 14–23, 201 YDS, 1 TD; John Paddock (BALL): 13–20, 82 YDS, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 14 CAR, 61 YDS, 1 TD; Carson Steele (BALL): 13 CAR, 76 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 4 REC, 84 YDS; Jayshon Jackson (BALL): 10 REC, 92 YDS

At UConn

See also: 2021 UConn Huskies football team.

• Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 15–26, 149 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT; Tyler Phommachanh (CONN): 19–39, 171 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 22 CAR, 101 YDS, 1 TD; Nathan Carter (CONN): 10 CAR, 65 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: Ayden Eberhardt (WYO): 3 REC, 40 YDS; Aaron Turner (CONN): 6 REC, 49 YDS

At Air Force

See also: 2021 Air Force Falcons football team.

• Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 11–28, 143 YDS, 1 TD; Haaziq Daniels (AFA): 7–10, 110 YDS, 1 TD
• Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 8 CAR, 96 YDS; Brad Roberts (AFA): 33 CAR, 140 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 3 REC, 55 YDS, 1 TD; Brandon Lewis (AFA): 5 REC, 77 YDS

Fresno State

See also: 2021 Fresno State Bulldogs football team.

• Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 8–23, 111 YDS, 3 INT; Jake Haener (FRES): 15–28, 96 YDS, 2 TD
• Rushing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 12 CAR, 51 YDS; Jordan Mims (FRES): 13 CAR, 78 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Ayden Eberhardt (WYO): 2 REC, 45 YDS; Zane Pope (FRES): 2 REC, 33 YDS

New Mexico

See also: 2021 New Mexico Lobos football team.

• Passing leaders: Sean Chambers (WYO): 11–23, 96 YDS, 1 INT; Isaiah Chavez (UNM): 10–11, 112 YDS, 1 TD
• Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 14 CAR, 41 YDS; Isaiah Chavez (UNM): 16 CAR, 49 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 2 REC, 45 YDS; Kyle Jarvis (UNM): 2 REC, 46 YDS

At San Jose State

See also: 2021 San Jose State Spartans football team.

• Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 12–22, 129 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT; Nick Nash (SJSU): 11–22, 150 YDS, 1 TD
• Rushing leaders: Xazavian Valladay (WYO): 22 CAR, 172 YDS; Nick Nash (SJSU): 11 CAR, 112 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 3 REC, 72 YDS, 2 TD; Derrick Deese Jr. (SJSU): 5 REC, 81 YDS

Colorado State

See also: 2021 Colorado State Rams football team.

• Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 9–16, 92 YDS, 2 TD; Todd Centeio (CSU): 20–36, 187 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT
• Rushing leaders: Titus Swen (WYO): 21 CAR, 166 YDS; David Bailey (CSU): 19 CAR, 88 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 3 REC, 45 YDS, 2 TD; Trey McBride (CSU): 9 REC, 98 YDS

At Boise State

See also: 2021 Boise State Broncos football team.

• Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 11–18, 155 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Hank Bachmeier (BSU): 23–32, 225 YDS, 1 TD
• Rushing leaders: Titus Swen (WYO): 13 CAR, 59 YDS, 1 TD; George Holani (BSU): 20 CAR, 102 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 6 REC, 126 YDS, 1 TD; Khalil Shakir (BSU): 8 REC, 83 YDS

At Utah State

See also: 2021 Utah State Aggies football team.

• Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 12–15, 242 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT; Logan Bonner (USU): 19–40, 181 YDS, 2 TD
• Rushing leaders: Titus Swen (WYO): 15 CAR, 169 YDS, 2 TD; Calvin Tyler Jr. (USU): 18 CAR, 109 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 4 REC, 125 YDS, 1 TD; Devin Thompkins (USU): 5 REC, 67 YDS, 1 TD

Hawaii

See also: 2021 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team.

• Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 15–24, 161 YDS, 1 TD; Chevan Cordeiro (HAW): 19–31, 323 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 9 CAR, 43 YDS; Chevan Cordeiro (HAW): 14 CAR, 86 YDS, 1 TD
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 3 REC, 78 YDS, 1 TD; Calvin Turner Jr. (HAW): 5 REC, 90 YDS

Kent State – Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

See also: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team and 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

• Passing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 9–11, 127 YDS, 1 TD; Dustin Crum (KENT): 17–27, 316 YDS, 4 TD
• Rushing leaders: Levi Williams (WYO): 16 CAR, 200 YDS, 4 TD; Marquez Cooper (KENT): 24 CAR, 125 YDS
• Receiving leaders: Isaiah Neyor (WYO): 5 REC, 87 YDS, 1 TD; Dante Cephas (KENT): 4 REC, 116 YDS, 1 TD

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2022 NFL draft.

3	70		LB	Jacksonville Jaguars
UDFA			DE	Miami Dolphins
UDFA			C	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
UDFA			G	Detroit Lions
UDFA		Trey Smith	RB	Jacksonville Jaguars

Notes and References

1. News: Potter . Davis . Meet Wyoming football's 2021 recruiting class . 28 August 2021 . Casper Star Tribune . 9 May 2021.
2. News: Harkins . Tim . Xazavian Valladay Named to Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List . 5 September 2021 . GoWyo.com . 19 July 2021.
3. News: Harkins . Tim . Chad Muma Selected to Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List . 5 September 2021 . GoWyo.com . 19 July 2021.
4. Web site: 2021 Doak Walker Award Candidates . Southern Methodist University . 5 September 2021.
5. Web site: 2021 Collegiate Watchlist . TheButkusAward.com . The Butkus Foundation . 5 September 2021 . 20 August 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100820080704/http://www.thebutkusaward.com/watchlist/view.aspx?t=c . dead .
6. News: Harkins . Tim . Keegan Cryder Named to Outland Trophy Watch List for Second Straight Year . 5 September 2021 . GoWyo.com . 27 July 2021.
7. News: Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2021 Preseason Watch List . 5 September 2021 . Palm Beach County Sports Commission . 28 July 2021.
8. News: The 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Announces 2021 Preseason Watch List . 5 September 2021 . Golden Arm Foundation . 19 August 2021.
9. News: Boise State, Nevada Picked to Win 2021 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles . 5 September 2021 . Mountain West Conference . 21 July 2021.
10. Web site: Kelly. Shannon. 2021-07-21. Mountain West football media days: Nevada at the top of West division poll. 2021-09-08. Nevada Sports Net.
11. Web site: 2020 Wyoming Cowboys Roster. 2021-09-08. College Football at Sports-Reference.com. en.
12. Web site: 2021 Wyoming Cowboys Schedule. 2021-09-08. ESPN. en.
13. Web site: 2021 Wyoming Football Schedule. FBSchedules.com. April 4, 2021.
14. Web site: 2021 Wyoming Cowboys Schedule and Results. 2021-09-08. College Football at Sports-Reference.com. en.