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?

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No. 6 – Robert Herron

Wide receiver, 2010-13, Los Angeles, Calif.

Résumé in Laramie
Robert Herron never earned above an honorable mention in the Mountain West Conference. He landed that title after his junior and senior seasons. However, his name is peppered throughout the Wyoming history books. He is ranked fourth in school history with 20 touchdown receptions. Herron is ninth in receiving yards with 2,030 and 10th in receptions with 152. Herron caught four touchdown passes against Hawaii on senior day. That was the most in the nation in 2013 and tied MWC and a school record. His 93-yard touchdown catch against San Jose State is the longest in UW history.

Why Herron?
Herron was a gamer. He has elite speed and quickness, yet somehow always seemed to fly under the radar.

That is until he hit the national stage of Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on a 94-degree September day in Austin.

Herron snagged five balls that steamy afternoon, including an 82-yard touchdown pass at the end of the first quarter, silencing the more than 100,000-plus in attendance. It also gave the Pokes a brief 9-7 lead over the 15th-ranked team in the nation.

Watch him absolutely dust this Texas defender:

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Herron would catch another long scoring strike from Wyoming quarterback, Brett Smith, this time for 22 yards. Herron torched the Longhorns secondary for 173 yards.

He was named National Wide Receiver of the Week and took home Mountain West Player of the Week honors.

"We’re throwing the football better than we’ve ever thrown the football against one of the best defenses in the country,” Wyoming coach Dave Christensen told the media postgame.

As a sophomore, Herron helped lead the Cowboys to a last-minute win over Weber State, hauling in a nine-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining. That capped a seven-catch, 104-yard night.

Not too bad for a guy who started his career in Laramie as a running back.

WHO WORE IT BEST:
Which Wyoming Cowboy wore it best? No. 5
Which Wyoming Cowboy wore it best? No. 4
Which Wyoming Cowboy wore it best? No. 3
Which Wyoming Cowboy wore it best? No. 2

He wasn’t too shabby at that position, either. He only got a sample size, but Herron rushed the ball 40 times as a freshman for 235 yards. That’s an average of 5.9 yards per carry.

Another thing that made Herron’s four-year stop in Laramie so special was his upbringing. With his father in prison and his mother not in his life, Herron was raised by his father’s cousin. Sports – mainly football and track – helped him get a college scholarship.

Herron was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the Dolphins and Raiders.

Honorable mention
This was not an easy decision. Heck, you could probably go with any of these guys and not be wrong.

There have been quite a few studs to don a No. 6 at UW. Dabby Dawson was one of them. The running back rushed for 2,124 yards and 15 touchdowns in just two seasons. Julian Hooker, a tight end in the late 90’s, caught 40 passes for 526 yards and six touchdowns, including a nine-yard scoring strike from Jay Stoner in a 16-9 loss to Georgia between the hedges.

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Matt Lehning, current owner of the Brown and Gold Outlet, was a hard-hitting, ball-hawking safety for the Pokes. He picked off six passes during his career. The Minnesota Vikings 2019 sixth-round selection, Marcus Epps, intercepted nine passes during his time as a Cowboy. Anthony Sargent was also a formidable wideout, pulling down 115 passes for 1,584 yards and 19 touchdowns in just two seasons.

And who could forget Hoooooooooost Marsh? (pictured at right) He was a dynamic return man, taking back 104 punts for 947 yards. The fan-favorite averaged 9.1 yards per return. He also caught 53 passes for 650 yards and five touchdowns.

Who else wore No. 6
Zach Weidenaar (QB), Alex Toney (LB), Ryon’e Winters (CB), Rayan Refae (K), Dennis Ross (WR), Eric Edmond (WR), Dana Day (RB), Kerry Garrett (WR), Gideon Smith (CB), Phillip Drakes (RB), Trey Woods (RB/LB), Ja’Lani Ellison (CB)

  • All available rosters courtesy of the University of Wyoming. If we missed one, please email Cody@7220sports.com.

UW vs. NIU September 11, 2021

 

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