By Tracy Ringolsby, WelcomeTo7220.com
Defensive end Garrett Crall and center Keegan Cryder, who were anchors for the Wyoming defensive and offensive lines the past four seasons, have received opportunities to continue their time on the gridiron.
Crall was picked up by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent, and Cryder received a similar opportunity with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The two join former Wyoming middle linebacker Chad Muma, who was selected by Jacksonville with the sixth pick in the third round of the draft, in having the door to the NFL opened.
Crall started 40 of the Cowboys 54 games from 2017 to 2021. He earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honors in 2021. A walk-on at Wyoming, Crall earned the respect of his teammates, who voted him a team captain for the 2020 and 2021 season.
As a senior, Crawl made 44 tackles, 24 of them solo shots, picked up 2.5 sacks, 6.0 tackles for a loss, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. During his Cowboy career he made 101 total tackles, 95 of which were solo, 15 sacks, 27 tackles for a loss, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and recovered three fumbles.
A quarterback at Hicksville, Ohio High School, Crall went from a 180-pound freshman to an impact defensive end, who was a nominee for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy, which goes annually to the most outstanding FBS football player who began his career as a walk-on.
He joins former teammate Marcus Epps, a safey with the Philadelphia Eagle, as Cowboys who went from being walk-ons to playing in the NFL.
Cryder was a three-time All-Mountain West Conference selection, and a two-time team captain for Wyoming. He started 44 consecutive games during his career — four at offensive guard in his redshirt freshman season of 2018 before moving to center, where he started the final eight games of that first year through the end of the 2021 season.
Including the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory in December, Cryder started 40 consecutive games at center for the Cowboys.
He was on the Outland Trophy Watch List the last two seasons, and was also on the Remington Trophy Watch List. Cryder was a First Team All-Mountain West Conference selection in 2020, and a second-team selection in 2019 and 2021. He was a four-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree.
He was voted a team captain in 2020 and 2021 by his teammates, and was the leader off an offensive line that was ranked No. 20 among FBS teams in rushing offense in 2021, No. 14 in the nation in 2020 and No. 23 in 2019.
During his career, Wyoming won the 2017 and 2021 Famous Idaho Potator Bowl, and the 2019 Arizona Bowl.
And now, with a tip of the hat to what playing for Wyoming meant to them, Crall and Cryder are taking the next step in hopes of taking their football ability to the next level.
