Pair of Wyoming Cowboys Land NFL Minicamp Invites

LARAMIE -- Two former Cowboys have received an NFL audition.

Outside linebacker Connor Shay, along with Wyoming's all-time leading scorer, placekicker John Hoyland, has been invited to rookie minicamps for the Green Bay Packers/ New York Jets and Denver Broncos/ Baltimore Ravens, respectively.

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While neither heard their names called last weekend during the annual draft, both could eventually sign free-agent contracts.

Hoyland, a Broomfield, Colo., native, finished with 73 makes on 92 field-goal attempts and 366 total points during his five-year stint on the high plains, 24 more than Cooper Rothe, the school's former scoring champion.

He also drilled 147-of-148 extra-point attempts.

Hoyland also holds the single-season record for makes with 22 in 2022, surpassing Cory Wedel and JD Wallum.

The accolades are impressive.

Hoyland was named a Lou Groza semifinalist, a Freshman All-American and split the uprights from 24 yards out to lift Wyoming to a 16-15 victory over Toledo in the 2023 Arizona Bowl, sending former head coach Craig Bohl into retirement as a winner.

Hoyland was named the game's Most Valuable Player that night in the desert.

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Shay, like so many linebackers before him in Laramie, had to patiently wait his turn.

He arrived on campus back in 2020 and found himself behind future NFL Draft pick Chad Muma, along with Easton Gibbs, who signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in the spring of '24.

Muma and Gibbs were also once reserves, sitting behind Logan Wilson and Cassh Maluia. That duo was also drafted.

Shay, a Danville, Calif., product, tallied just six total tackles during his first two years, becoming a mainstay on special teams. He racked up just 15 more during his junior campaign.

Last fall, in his only season as a starter, the 6-foot-2, 232-pound Shay broke out with 76 stops, which was second on the team behind only middle linebacker Shae Suiaunoa.

Shay also tacked on 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups and an interception.

Since the initial NFL Draft back in 1936, 85 former Cowboys have heard their names called. The latest was Muma, who was a third-round selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars in '22.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players