It had been 44 years between first-round NFL draft picks for the University of Wyoming.
Quarterback Josh Allen is proving to be worth the NFL’s wait.
The Buffalo Bills selected Allen with the seventh overall choice of the 2020 draft – Wyoming’s first first-round pick since 1976 when Aaron Kyle and Lawrence Gaines both went in Round 1. The only other first-round pick in school history was defensive tackle Ron Billingsley by the San Diego Chargers with the 14th overall choice of the 1967 draft.
Allen has started all four of his seasons in Buffalo and taken the Bills to the playoffs in three of them. He led Bills into the post-season as a wild-card in his second year in 2019 and then won AFC East tiles each of his last two years. In 2020, Allen took Buffalo to its first AFC title game since their last Super Bowl season in 1993.
Allen was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and has been a touchdown machine for the Bills with 103 through the air and 31 more on the ground. He rushed for a career-best nine touchdowns in 2019 and threw for 37 and then 36 touchdowns in his last two seasons.
Kyle and Billingsley join Allen on the all-time Wyoming NFL team, which also includes two players with multiple Super Bowl rings. Tight end Jay Novacek went to five Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls with the 1990s Dallas Cowboys and halfback Jim Kiick went to two Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the 1970s Miami Dolphins.
Here’s the all-time Wyoming NFL team:
*-QB—Josh Allen, 2 Pro Bowls, 4 seasons, 103 TD passes, 31 rushing TDs
HB—Jim Kiick, 2 Pro Bowls, 9 seasons, 3,759 rushing yards, 2 Super Bowl rings
FB—Jerry Hill, 9 seasons, 2,668 rushing yards, 25 touchdowns, Super Bowl ring
WR—Malcolm Floyd, 11 seasons, 321 receptions, 34 touchdowns
WR—Josh Doctson, 4 seasons, 81 receptions, 8 touchdowns
TE—Jay Novacek, 5 Pro Bowls, 422 receptions, 3 Super Bowl rings
T—Adam Goldberg, 8 seasons, 66 starts
T—Nick Bebout, 8 seasons, 62 starts
G—Conrad Dobler, 3 Pro Bowls, 10 seasons, 125 starts
G—Dale Memmelaar, 9 seasons, 46 starts, NFL champion
*-C—Chase Roullier, 5 seasons, 61 starts
DE—Tony McGee, 14 seasons, 103 sacks
*-DE—Carl Granderson, 3 seasons, 9 sacks
DT—Ron Billingsley, 6 seasons, 38 starts, 8 sacks
*-DT—Mike Purcell, 6 seasons, 138 tackles, 2 sacks
*-OLB—Logan Wilson, 2 seasons, 100 tackles in 2021
MLB—Ken Fantetti, 7 seasons, 81 starts, 6 interceptions
OLB—Guy Frazier, 5 seasons, 33 starts, 5 sacks
CB—Aaron Kyle, 7 seasons, 76 starts, 11 interceptions, Super Bowl ring
CB—Nelson Munsey, 6 seasons, 63 starts, 12 takeaways
*-S—Tashaun Gipson, Pro Bowl, 10 seasons, 27 interceptions
S—Chuck Lawson, 5 seasons, 58 starts, 11 interceptions
K—Jerry DePoyster, 3 seasons, 3 field goals, 71 points
P—Rich Donnelly, 6 seasons, led the NFL in punting in 1987 (44.0-yard average)
KR—Dave Hampton, 113 kickoff returns, 25.9-yard average, 3 touchdowns
ST—John Wendling, 7 seasons, led Bills in ST tackles in 2009 & the Lions in 2010
*-Still Active
