Wyoming Recruits Transfer QBs with Statement Promoting Football Program on Twitter
Dec 24, 2021
Wyoming quarterback Levi Williams (15) plays against New Mexico in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Wyoming is looking for a quarterback, and it isn't hiding it.
After quarterback Levi Williams entered the transfer portal following the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Kent State, the program posted something of a help-wanted message on Twitter explaining it will look for a signal-caller in the portal or junior college:
The college football landscape is changing with the one-time transfer rule and NIL. Our staff anticipated this movement and have a clear vision to navigate these uncharted waters. After a successful early signing day, Cowboy Football will address the need to sign a quarterback via the transfer portal or junior college.
We believe this is a great opportunity for a transfer quarterback to make an impact on our program. We've seen that before when we brought Josh Allen into our program, and we're excited for the next chapter of Cowboy Football.
The mention of Allen is particularly notable since he started his collegiate career at Reedley College before transferring to the Cowboys and eventually becoming the No. 7 overall pick of the NFL draft.
He is now one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Williams' decision to leave comes after he tallied five total touchdowns in the win over Kent State.
Wyoming WR Commit Tony Evans Jr. Dies at Age 17 After Shooting
Apr 11, 2021
High school football player Tony Evans Jr. was fatally shot early Sunday morning in the Stemmons Corridor, Dallas, according to Kelli Smith of the Dallas Morning News.
The 17-year-old receiver from Lancaster, Texas, had committed to play football at Wyoming next season, per Sam Marsdale of 247 Sports.
Police said Evans and another person were shot at about 1:30 a.m. in a room at the Hawthorn Suites hotel. Both of them were taken to a hospital, where Evans was pronounced dead. The other victim is reportedly in stable condition.
Police currently do not have a suspect in the case.
Evans was considered a 3-star recruit and No. 179 athlete in the 2021 class, per 247 Sports composite rankings. He finished last season with 13 catches for 268 yards and four touchdowns as a senior for Lancaster High School.
Levi Williams, Wyoming Dominate Georgia State 38-17 in 2019 Arizona Bowl
Dec 31, 2019
Wyoming quarterback Levi Williams, left, is tackled by Air Force defensive lineman Mosese Fifita after a short gain in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, at Air Force Academy, Colo. Air Force won 20-6. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Wyoming Cowboys won their second bowl game in three years.
Wyoming defeated the Georgia State Panthers 38-17 at the 2019 Arizona Bowl on Tuesday at Arizona Stadium. Quarterback Levi Williams led the way in just his third career game with four total touchdowns, helping the Cowboys finish 8-5 and bounce back from three losses in the final four regular-season games.
As for Georgia State, this marks four losses in the last five games after a solid start to its 7-6 campaign.
Notable Player Stats
Wyoming QB Levi Williams: 11-of-26 passing for 234 yards, three touchdowns and one interception; 12 carries for 53 yards and one touchdown
Wyoming RB Xazavian Valladay: 26 carries for 204 yards and one touchdown; three catches for 91 yards and one touchdown
Georgia State QB Dan Ellington: 13-of-26 passing for 156 yards, one touchdown and one interception; 14 carries for 70 yards and one touchdown
Georgia State WR Cornelius McCoy: five catches for 78 yards and one touchdown
Wyoming's Defense Sets the Tone Before Offense Finishes
Wyoming's defense appeared to be in for a long day when it allowed a touchdown on the opening possession, which was uncharacteristic for a unit that finished 11th in the country in points allowed per game.
It quickly found its form, though, setting up the offense with short fields thanks to a turnover on downs and an Alijah Halliburton interception. It also held Georgia State to a field goal when backed up inside the 10-yard line to help cut short the Panthers' early comeback efforts.
That was all the offense needed, as Williams took advantage of the short fields with touchdown passes to Austin Conway and Xazavian Valladay. Valladay also helped put the game away with a touchdown run in the third quarter, although the best individual effort came from Williams right before the end of the first half.
He unleashed an incredible throw as he was falling backward to Ayden Eberhardt for a 51-yard touchdown, one of seven passes—three of which went for touchdowns—he completed in the first half.
Levi Williams had never thrown a TD pass in college coming into today. He has now thrown two passing TDs in a span of about 5 minutes in real time. pic.twitter.com/fJkvi51iDK
Wyoming's defense, which also tallied a 4th-and-goal stop in the fourth quarter, hasn't needed much help to contend in games given how dominant it has been for stretches this season. That both sides of the ball played well in Tuesday's game suggests good things to come in 2020.
Williams, a freshman, won't win any awards for his completion percentage from this victory, but he made timely throws to take advantage of scoring opportunities when they presented themselves and even scored on the ground. That, along with strong running from Valladay, was enough to complement the defense.
Dan Ellington's Toughness Stands Out Even in Defeat
There are few better stories of toughness in the entire bowl season than Georgia State quarterback Dan Ellington's.
The senior tore his ACL against Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 9, but he played the final three games of the regular season and started Tuesday's bowl contest.
"I knew I was going to finish the season out the game I got hurt," he told reporters. "I just had to see how I was moving."
Georgia State QB Dan Ellington is out here playing on a torn ACL and still finding the end zone. Nothing but heart and determination. 🙌@GeorgiaStateFB | @novaAZBOWL pic.twitter.com/A4DvEkrHIn
The dual-threat quarterback who threw for 21 touchdowns and ran for five more during the regular season was moving just fine at the start of Tuesday's game. He ran four times for 45 yards on Georgia state's first possession alone and capped off the drive with a touchdown scamper.
While that was largely the high point for the signal-caller, who struggled with accuracy, he found running lanes to keep the Panthers within striking distance early and connected with Cornelius McCoy for a long touchdown in the third quarter.
Most athletes, even at the professional level, wouldn't have played with a torn ACL. Ellington did and turned some heads along the way.
NFL Combine Invitee Carl Granderson Charged with Sexual Assault
Feb 8, 2019
Wyoming defensive end Carl Granderson (91) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game against New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
Former Wyoming Cowboys defensive end and 2019 NFL draft prospect Carl Granderson has been charged with third-degree sexual assault and sexual battery, according to the Casper Star-Tribune's Davis Potter.
Wyoming issued a statement on the matter Thursday, per Wyo4News:
"The allegations stem from an incident following the conclusion of the 2018 football season and the end of Granderson's athletic eligibility. Because of that, the Department of Athletics cannot suspend him, which is the usual course of action for student-athletes when felony sexual assault charges are filed against them, under university policy."
Potter notes that the Laramie Police Department received a call on Nov. 26 and a report was filed the next day. Per Potter, being convicted of third-degree sexual assault in Wyoming can be punishable with up to 15 years in prison, while sexual battery carries a one-year sentence.
Cowboys coach Craig Bohl also addressed his former player's charges.
"The sexual assault charges recently filed against Carl Granderson are serious, and the allegations are troubling," Bohl said in a statement. "I want to assure the people of Wyoming that we hold our young men to the highest of standards, and this alleged behavior is unacceptable."
Granderson is no longer enrolled at the university after recently graduating.
After earning first-team All-Mountain West honors as a junior in 2017, Granderson recorded 40 total tackles and three sacks as a senior this past season.
The 6'5", 261-pound lineman was among the 338 draft prospects invited to the 2019 NFL scouting combine on Thursday. The combine will be held in Indianapolis from Feb. 26 to March 4.
In 2016, the NFLimplementeda rule prohibiting players with misdemeanor or felony convictions from participating in the combine. Granderson was on the list of invitees as of Friday morning.
