Jerry Hill Wyoming Cowboy

After being drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1962, Jerry Hill had a productive 9 year NFL career.

The 2017 NFL Draft will take place in Philadelphia from April 27-29 and there are a handful of former Pokes who will hope to get drafted into the professional ranks. Running back Brian Hill, offensive lineman Chase Roullier and wide receiver Tanner Gentry are the three Wyoming football players most likely to hear their names called. Below are some Wyoming NFL Draft facts you need to know as we wait and see which Pokes will be playing on Sundays this fall.


  • The Wyoming football program has seen 80 players drafted into the NFL since 1947, with the first being T Jim Clayton by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 21st round and the last draftee was LB Mark Nzeocha in the 7th round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.

  • Wyoming is looking for their first multiple NFL draft pick class since 2014 when DB Marqueston Huff was drafted by Tennessee in the 4th round and WR Robert Herron was drafted in the 6th by Tampa Bay.

  • The highest ever drafted Cowboy was DT Ronald Billingsley in 1967 who was drafted in the 1st round with the 14th overall pick by the San Diego Chargers.

  • The Pokes have one AFL draft pick in their history, RB Jerry Hill was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 2nd round of the 1961 AFL Draft but never played for the Broncos. He opted to sign with the NFL’s Baltimore Colts after being drafted in the 3rd round of the 1961 NFL Draft.

 

  • TE Jay Novacek is famous for being a Cowboy both in college and as a pro. He actually got his start with the Saint Louis Cardinals where he was drafted in the 6th round of the 1985 draft. He would spend five seasons with the franchise before signing with the Dallas Cowboys where he became a three-time Super Bowl champion.