Which Wyoming Cowboy wore it best? No. 95

CHEYENNE — Do you ever see a number on a Wyoming football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Yeah, me too. In this daily series, I’ll give you my take on which Pokes’ football player was the best ever to don each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at UW? What kind of impact did he have on the program?

No. 95 – Gordy Wood

Tight end, 1987-90, Bremerton, Washington

Résumé in Laramie
Gordy Wood was a big-time play maker for the Cowboys in the late 90's, pulling down more than 150 passes and catching 11 touchdowns. Wood played in Laramie during one of the most successful stretches in Cowboy history. Wyoming won 35 games and Wood played in three bowl games.

Why Wood?
In October of 2003, Chuck Stark of the Kitsap Sun newspaper in Bremerton, Washington, announced his "All-time best football team" from the local area.

Starting at tight end, Stark named Gordy Wood, who played at Wyoming from 1987-90. The Olympic High grad snagged 151 passes in Laramie for 1,597 yards and 11 touchdowns. More than just a pass catcher, Wood also returned a few punts and scored three rushing touchdowns in Paul Roach's offense.

Wood signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent in 1991. He went on to coach in the San Diego area. There, he had a couple of players you might recognize. Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith.

Thanks for sending those guys to Laramie, coach.

All kidding aside, Wood played during a time of Western Athletic Conference dominance at UW. In his four seasons, the Cowboys won 35 games, won two conference titles and played in three bowl games. That, of course was back-to-back Holiday Bowl appearances in 1987-88 and a trip to the Copper Bowl during his senior season.

Watch Gordy Wood catch a quick pass from Randy Welniak at the 4:54 mark.

Wood stepped in for Tom Kilpatrick, who also found the end zone 11 times during his tenure on the high plains. Wood was the best receiving tight end since a guy named Jay Novacek was cementing his Hall of Fame career in Laramie between 1982-84.

The tight end is an often undervalued position in the program. But between the Dennis Erickson and Paul Roach years -- 1986 to 90 -- and the Joe Tiller and Dana Dimel era -- 13 years in total -- Wyoming tight ends caught 555 passes for 6,224 yards and 39 touchdowns. Those were guys like Mike Jones, Julian Hooker, and Kirby Drube, among others.

That was often overshadowed by the record-breaking performances of Cowboy receivers Ryan Yarborough, Marcus Harris and Wendell Montgomery.

Not only did Wood and Co. make plays in the passing game, they blocked for guys like Gerald Abraham, Dabby Dawson, Dwight Driver, Ryan Christopherson, Len Sexton and Marques Brigham.

Wood was enshrined in the Kitsap Sports Hall of fame back in 2015. His 1987 Cowboys' squad is in the UW Athletics Hall of Fame.

Honorable mention
Corey Mace (2005-06) was named second-team All-Mountain West Conference during his senior season in Laramie. The defensive end from British Columbia racked up eight sacks in his two seasons in Laramie to go along with 65 tackles and a forced fumble.

In 2007, Mace was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Instead, Mace signed a free agent deal with the Buffalo Bills. He appeared in three games in 2008 and registered a tackle.

From 2010-15, Mace played for the Calgary Stampeders. He won a Grey Cup Championship in 2014. He is currently a defensive line coach in Calgary.

Who else wore No. 95
Grant Fleming, Chad Cohoon, Mike Graham, John Aimone, Spencer Miller, Garrett Bliss, Anthony Wilson, Patrick Mertens, Jacob English, Hunter Van Emmerik, Dylan Leston, De’Vaughn Brown, Lawrence Chavers