Xazavian Valladay leads Wyoming trio of preseason all-conference picks
LARAMIE, Wyo. (BVM) — Three University of Wyoming football players were named to the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference team Thursday, and it should come as no surprise that star junior running back Xazavian Valladay leads that trio.
Valladay has been an All-Mountain West First Team selection at the end of both of the past two seasons after leading the conference in rushing in 2019 and 2020. His 550 yards (110 per game) during last year’s COVID-shortened season ranked No. 17 in the country and his 1,265 yards (105.4 per game) in 2019 ranked No. 18. On Wednesday, the Matteson, Ill. product was also named to the Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List for the second straight year. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.
Joining Valladay on the preseason all-conference team are junior center Keegan Cryder and junior linebacker Chad Muma. Cryder, a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2020 and a second-team pick in 2019, has helped solidify an offensive line that has paved the way for Valladay and the Cowboys’ ground game past two seasons. Wyoming ranked No. 14 nationally in rushing in 2020 and No. 23 in 2019.
Meanwhile, Muma returns as the conference’s leading tackler after averaging 11.8 per game in 2020 when he led a Cowboy defense that ranked No. 16 in the country in total defense, No. 24 in scoring defense and No. 21 in rushing defense. Muma, as would be expected, was a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2020.
Wyoming was picked to finish second in the Mountain Division of the MWC after receiving 115 points and two first-place votes as the conference’s Media Days event kicked off in Las Vegas on Wednesday. The Cowboys are coming off a 2-4 shortened season but finished with eight wins in three of the previous four years. They’ll begin the 2021 season Sept. 4 at home against Montana State.
