Hooper, Rush end college football careers

LARAMIE -- Offensive lineman Patrick Arnold decided to hang up his cleats last June.

The University of Wyoming football program Wednesday announced that two other players have also decided to call it a career.

Gavin Rush and Jesse Hooper are no longer on the roster.

Hooper, a junior long snapper from West Jordan, Utah, announced his decision Sept. 25 via Twitter.

"... I have reached the end of the line. I have decided to retire from the game of football," Hooper wrote in part. "... Thank you to the state of Wyoming. Thank you for teaching me the meaning of Cowboy tough and being the best fans in college football."

Hooper snapped for the Pokes during the 2018-19 seasons. He wasn't credited with a single bad snap during that time.

That's one of the reasons former placekicker Cooper Rothe was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award and last season became the school's all-time leading scorer.

Hooper had another highlight during his career.

After the 2019 spring game, still in full uniform, he dropped on his right knee and proposed to his girl friend, Avie Jordyn, in front of his teammates and family.

Hooper will finish his degree in Laramie, according to a school press release.

Rush might be leaving the program as a player, but he isn't going far.

The redshirt junior from Phillips, Neb., is currently working as an intern with the Cowboys' strength and conditioning staff.

Rush opened holes for Wyoming's all-time leading rusher, Brian Hill, during his freshman season. He stared all 14 games in 2016. The following year, Rush appeared in all 13 contests at the guard spot.

That all changed in 2018.

Rush tore a biceps muscle, forcing him to miss the entire season. He rehabbed and battled back to the top of the depth charts during the spring of 2019.

Then, more bad news.

Rush suffered another season-ending injury, this time a torn ACL.

"Two major surgeries in eight months is not something I planned on going through, but the hard times will make me a better man at the end of the day," Rush wrote on Instagram back on April 11, 2019. "Ready to get the rehab process started and get back on the field."