Hendricks named Mid Season All American

Brian Hendricks was one of six Mountain West players announced as a Midseason All-American today. He has truly been impressive in his first season as a starter for the Cowboys. He has great vision and is always around the ball.


Here is a quote from the MWC press release:

"Hendricks, a sophomore, ranks second in the league and third nationally with an average of 11.57 tackles per game in 2009. The Burlington, Colo., native has registered four games with double-figure tackles in 2009, including a league single-game high of 23 stops against Air Force on Oct. 17."


Let's hope Brian can keep up his stellar season and earn some more accolades after the season. This will be a nice boost for recruiting since Hendricks is so young and others players will want to be on the field with him for the next two years.

Cowboy Defensive Leaders

Pictured: #91 John Fletcher goes after Colt McCoy



Despite the three losses there have been a number of positives coming from the Cowboy defensive unit this season. A number of players are among the NCAA leaders in several categories.

Brian Hendricks - LB, Sophomore

Hendricks keeps getting better and better each week. Last Saturday against Air Force he set a Wyoming single game record with 23 total tackles. Hendricks has 21 solo and 46 assist tackles on the year. His 67 total tackles rank him 15th in FBS. His record helped earn Hendricks Defensive POW honors last week.

Greg Knapton - LB, Sophomore

Knapton has been a consistent force on defense all year. Has 16 tackles on the year (17/48). His 48 assists rank him second in the FBS just one behind a couple of Big 10 linebackers. Has recorded double digit tackles his last five games.

Shamiel Gary - S, Freshman

Shamiel made a huge impact in his first ever game for the Cowboys. His three interceptions kept Weber State from pulling off the upset. His 53 tackles (16/37) rank him third on the team. With 37 assists Gary is ranked 17th in FBS.

John Fletcher - DT, Senior

Fletcher has done a great job of clogging up running lanes and terrorizing opposing QBs this year. For the year he has seven sacks which rank seventh in FBS. Fletcher has had at least one sack in every game with the UNLV game being the only exception. The 272 lb linemen will hopefully be playing on Sunday somewhere next year.

Mountain West Players of the Week


Congrats to Brian Hendricks on a setting a Wyoming single game record with tackles against Air Force on Saturday. This is the fifth time this season that a Cowboy has been named Player of the Week. Hendricks join P/KP Austin McCoy, PK Ian Watts and Austyn Carta-Samuels (twice).

Release from the Mountain West Conference

Oct. 19, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -

Max Hall (BYU), Brian Hendricks (Wyoming) and Jeremy Kerley (TCU) are Mountain West Conference Players of the Week for games through Oct. 17. Hall earns the Offensive Player of the Week honor, while Hendricks garners the Defensive Player award and Kerley receives Special Teams recognition. This marks the third player of the week honor for Hall this season (seventh career), while Kerley collects his second (both season and career). It is the first career accolade for Hendricks.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MAX HALL, BYU
Senior, Quarterback, Mesa, Ariz./Arizona State
Max Hall accounted for 393 yards of offense and four touchdowns in No. 19 BYU's 38-28 win at San Diego State. Hall completed 27-of-39 attempts for a season-high 346 yards and three touchdowns through the air while adding a career-best 47 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown on the ground. The senior quarterback scored his rushing touchdown as time expired in the first half to give BYU a seven-point lead at the break. Hall connected on two touchdown passes on key third-down plays in the second half to keep the Cougars in front, helping BYU convert 15-of-21 third-down plays in the game overall. The Mesa, Ariz., native spread the ball around to nine different receivers and did not throw an interception for the second straight game.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

BRIAN HENDRICKS, WYOMING
Sophomore, Linebacker, Burlington, Colo./Burlington HS
Brian Hendricks forced a fumble and registered a Wyoming single-game record with 23 total tackles (11 solo) in a 10-0 loss at Air Force. The sophomore linebacker's 23 stops, which also tied an MWC single-game record, shattered a Cowboy mark that had stood since 1972 when Frank Erzinger made 21 tackles against New Mexico. Hendricks' biggest stops came midway through the second quarter with Air Force having a first-and-goal at the Wyoming 10-yard line. The Burlington, Colo., product made tackles on both first and second down, then helped the UW defense force a fourth-down incomplete pass to maintain a 0-0 tie going into the half. Hendricks led a Cowboy defensive effort that held the Falcons to a season-low 10 points and just two yards through the air, the second-fewest passing yards in league history. Wyoming also limited Air Force to 269 yards total offense, 90 yards under its season average. Hendricks becomes only the third Cowboy in 113 seasons to record 20 or more tackles in a single game.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

JEREMY KERLEY, TCU
Junior, Punt Returner, Hutto, Texas/Hutto HS
Jeremy Kerley registered 103 yards on three punt returns with a touchdown in No. 8 TCU's 44-6 win over Colorado State. The junior's 69-yard punt return TD late in the second quarter put the Horned Frogs on top, 17-6, heading into the break. His other two returns also set up TCU scores, accounting for 13 points overall. Kerley, who hails from Hutto, Texas, averaged 34.3 yards per return in the game.

Falcons shutout the Cowboys

Falcons shutdown Cowboys

It took nearly 45 minutes for the Air Force Falcons (4-3, 3-1 Mountain West) were able to get on the board in a 10-0 victory over the Wyoming Cowboys (4-3,2-1) at home. Erik Soderberg kicked a 29 yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead in a sloppy game by both teams. Four minutes later Jared Tew ran it in from 17 yards out to conclude the scoring for the Falcons and the game. The Falcons have now won four straight over the Cowboys.

Neither team had much luck moving the ball as tough defense and penalties bogged down drives all game long. Wyoming was flagged 10 times for 71 yards while Air Force was penalized 13 times for 125 yards.

Tim Jefferson got the start at QB for the Falcons but was mostly innefective. Coach Troy Calhoun put in Connor Dietz for the second half and was able to get the Falcons in rhythm and grab the victory. Calhoun had been mum all week on who would start at QB for the Falcons.

Jared Tew lead the Falcons with 27 carries for 105 yards. Air Force totaled 269 yards for the game with only two coming through the air. The Falcons defense held the Pokes to 174 yards for the game.

Wyoming was never able to break inside the Falcons 30 yard line. Their only scoring threat came on a 47 yard field goal that was blocked with time expiring at the end of the first half. QB Austyn Carta-Samuels was 14/31 for only 76 yards and one interception. David Leonard continued to be one of the top targets as he grabbed a team leading seven receptions for 36 yards.

The Cowboys defense held Air Force offense in check for most the game. Brian Hendricks finished with 23 tackles and John Fletcher added two sacks.

Air Force had two other chances to score but failed on 4th and Goal situations in both halves.

Air Force travels to Utah next week while Wyoming has the week off.