When one thinks of Wyoming, the first things that come to mind are likely imposing mountain ranges and sprawling ranches. But nestled in Laramie is the University of Wyoming, a school with a proud collegiate athletics history.
While one name – Josh Allen – certainly dominates its recent history culturally, he is hardly the only significant athlete to don a Cowboys jersey. Beyond Allen, there is former Biletnikoff-winning receiver and two-sport athlete that won a Super Bowl. In basketball, the Cowboys boast former star that led an unlikely tournament run.
While the talent may fly under the radar, Wyoming does boast a basketball national championship to its name. The Cowboys are going to remain in Mountain West as key members departed for the Pac-12.
Here's a look at some of the best athletes the state has to offer, all of whom come out of Laramie.
10 greatest college athletes from Wyoming
Josh Allen, Wyoming
Josh Allen may not have had the most prolific college career, but when you talk collegiate athletes out of Wyoming, the conversation starts with him. With that being said, Allen was hardly average with the Cowboys. He finished in the program's top five for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total touchdowns, including 28 passing TDs in 2016. Wyoming went to bowls in Allen's last two seasons, and his name is now inextricably linked to the program.
Jay Novacek, Wyoming
Tight end Jay Novacek was born to be a Cowboy. He played his college years at Wyoming before going on to be an All-Pro in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. Initially a split end, Novacek moved to tight end in college, where he started to thrive. Novacek caught 33 passes for 745 yards and was a consensus All-American in his senior year in 1984, but that wasn't all he did for the Cowboys. He competed in track and field for the Cowboys, finishing fourth in the the decathlon at the NCAA championships after winning the WAC to earn All-America honors. Novacek made a bid to be an Olympian, competing in the 1984 U.S. trials for decathlon.
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Marcus Harris, Wyoming
Wyoming football didn't start in the 2010s. It's a program that was playing in bowl games in the 1980s and 1990s as well. Harris is Wyoming's leader receiving yards at 4,518, which has him on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 2027, and puts him at fifth all-time. The receiver won the Biletnikoff Award in 1996, when he caught 109 passes for 1,650 yards. He averaged nearly 100 yards per game (98.2) in his Wyoming career.
Fennis Dembo, Wyoming
Dembo, as is often the story with Wyoming athletes, was sparsely recruited out of San Antonio. Dembo was quintessentially a player you loved to have on your team, but hated to play. He played with a big personality, which he backed up with dazzling play. He averaged 17.9 points per game at Wyoming, including 20.3 and 20.4 points in 1986 and 1987, respectively. Dembo led 12th-seeded Wyoming to an unlikely run to the Sweet 16 berth in the 1987 NCAA Tournament after defeats of . Virginia and UCLA. He finished his career as the school's leader in points (2,311) and rebounds (954) and later had his number 34 retired, alongside another member of this list.
PROGRAM RANKINGS: Top 25 | Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12
Brian Hill, Wyoming
An underappreciated part of the Josh Allen backfield, Brian Hill put up video game numbers in his three seasons. Hill had two seasons rushing more than 1,400 yards, and he finished as the program leader with 4,278 yards on the ground. Though the teams of Hill's era are largely remembered by Allen's presence, Hill was the workhorse. He led the country in 2016 with 349 carries, and he was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award in 2015. Walker was drafted in the fifth round in 2016.
Scott Usher, Wyoming
Scott Usher is the first Wyoming swimmer to ever compete in an Olympic Games with his participation in Athens in 2004. Usher was a five-time All-American for Wyoming, and a four-time first-team All-American. Usher won 35 of the 36 dual meet breaststroke events he competed in, with one lonely second-place finish among them. Usher won four Mountain West 200-yard breaststroke championships, and is one of the most dominant swimmers in Wyoming — and Mountain West — history.
Kenny Sailors, Wyoming
Widely regarded as a pioneer of the jump shot, Sailors was the leader of Wyoming's 1943 men's basketball national championship team. A two-time All-American, Sailors averaged 15 points per game in the 1942-43 season. After serving in the Marines during World War II, Sailors returned to Wyoming and was an All-American in 1946. His number is retired alongside Dembo in the Laramie rafters.
Mike Dirks, Wyoming
The Wyoming defensive lines of the late 1960s were the things of nightmares for offenses, and they were anchored by Dirks. A Wyoming co-captain, Dirks logged 71 tackles with the Cowboys and is part of the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame. The 1966 and 1967 Wyoming defenses broke records for rushing yards allowed and keyed a 20-2 record and two bowl berths in that span, including an appearance in the Sugar Bowl
Christine Fairless, Wyoming
Wyoming women's basketball's all-time leading scorer with 1,933 points, Fairless was one of the deadliest shooters in her era. Fairless averaged 17.6 points per game and shot 42% from the 3-point range. A three-time All-High Country Athletic Conference selection, Fairless also averaged 7.2 rebounds per game as a senior.
Dennis Baker, Wyoming
Dennis Baker is one of the top offensive linemen to ever play for Wyoming. He was named the program's third ever All-American. A three-time all-Western Athletic Conference performer, Baker anchored an offensive line that helped the Cowboys win eight games and reach the Fiesta Bowl in the 1976 season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: The 10 greatest college athletes from Wyoming ranked
