University of Wyoming football fans may get to see another former Cowboy playing in the NFL on Sundays this fall.
The Denver Broncos announced their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season Tuesday, and it includes former UW offensive tackle Frank Crum. Crum, a 2018 Laramie High School graduate, played at UW for five seasons.
Crum wasn’t immediately available for comment when reached by Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday. However, his father Gary Crum said he’s incredibly proud. Gary Crum was a UW football star in his own right and was drafted into the NFL.
“I’m pretty excited. I’m just really happy for him,” Gary Crum told Cowboy State Daily.
During his time with the Cowboys, Crum earned All-Mountain West Conference honors three times, including First Team in 2023.
Crum gained national attention at the NFL combine this past spring when he ran the second-fastest time among offensive lineman in the 40-yard dash in 4.94 seconds.
He signed with the Broncos as a free agent after going undrafted. Crum is one of only three undrafted players to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.
Praise From Head Coach
His size and athleticism were attractive to NFL coaches.
"Crum, you don't get many [6-foot-7] guys or whatever he is that can bend like he does and has the power he does," Broncos head coach Sean Payton said on the team website. "He's still raw. You see him in pass [protection]. I know he got beat a couple of times, but for a kid who played at Wyoming and a first-year rookie in the NFL to do some of the things he did in practice and vs. Green Bay.
“He played well in Indy, obviously. I thought he played well most of the game. He had a few breakdowns, but (is) really talented. I really love the upside of Crum."
While he survived the final cutdown Tuesday, Frank Crum could still be waived or placed on the team’s practice squad as the Broncos consider other free agents. Practice squads will be announced Wednesday.
Gary Crum said his son is second on the depth chart at the right tackle position, so it’s possible neither of those things will happen.
Some had questioned Crum’s technical abilities as an NFL prospect, but he’s clearly done enough to win over the Broncos coaching staff for now.
What wasn’t questioned was his 6-foot-7, 315-pound frame, which should be ample to take on some of the biggest players in the league.
Gary Crum said he and their family are planning on attending the Broncos season opener Sept. 8 in Seattle against the Seahawks.
It’s been a successful time for the Crum family as Gary Crum just won his primary election for the Wyoming Senate last week. Like his son, he still hasn’t got the job yet as he still has to get through an opponent in the general election.
“So far so good,” Gary Crum said. “We’re all going to just keep working hard.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
