Wyoming Cowboys' highest NFL draft picks since 1970

While most colleges and universities field a football team as part of its general athletics program, there are some for which football is more than merely a sport—it's akin almost to a religion. Devotion to the team and its colors is as important to that school's culture as a religious icon is to a believer. These programs actively scout and recruit notable high school players, and are in turn rigorously applied to by matriculating seniors eager to make a name for themselves at the collegiate level.

Among the most notable college football empires are Notre Dame, the universities of Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State—the list goes on and on.

But for every touchstone football school, there is an outlier that has produced some of the most successful and cherished players in the game. Think Jackson State, which gave us "Sweetness" himself, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Or Mississippi Valley State, which yielded 3-time Super Bowl champion and #1 Player in NFL History, as voted by the NFL Network, '49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Each year, the college draft serves as a source of renewal to professional football and a testament to the quality of college programs nationwide. With the 2022 NFL draft set to take place April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Stacker compiled a list of the highest NFL draft picks from the Wyoming Cowboys using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Patrick Chukwurah (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #157 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Brian Hill (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #156 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Nick Bebout (T)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #142 overall in 1973
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Marqueston Huff (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #122 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#16. Chris Prosinski (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #121 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#15. Conrad Dobler (G)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #110 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (3 Pro Bowls)

#14. Mitch Donahue (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #95 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Guy Frazier (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #93 overall in 1981
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#12. Danny Pittman (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #90 overall in 1980
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Vic Washington (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #87 overall in 1970
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (1 Pro Bowls)

#10. Steve Scifres (G)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #83 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Jim Eliopulos (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #81 overall in 1982
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#8. Logan Wilson (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #65 overall in 2020
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Chris Kolodziejski (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #52 overall in 1984
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Eric Coleman (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #43 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#5. Ryan Yarborough (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #41 overall in 1994
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Ken Fantetti (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #37 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Aaron Kyle (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #27 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Lawrence Gaines (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#1. Josh Allen (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #7 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (1 Pro Bowls)