Valladay getting ‘comfortable being uncomfortable’ in fall camp

LARAMIE -- Xazavian Valladay was the last man standing.

During fall camp, roughly a calendar year ago, the sophomore from suburban Chicago was the lone running back on the roster to carry the ball in a Wyoming uniform.

Nico Evans, the Mountain West's leading rusher, was lost to graduation. Jevon Bigelow was heading home to play at Fresno State. Theo Dawson, a local recruit from Star Valley decided to back out of his commitment. Reow Jackson was released from his scholarship and Kellen Overstreet decided to hang up his cleats for good.

All that was left was a skinny, soft-spoken kid with 71 collegiate rushes under his belt, 22 of which came in the season finale at New Mexico.