Pokes to Honor Hall of Famer Ryan Yarborough at Border War
The University of Wyoming will celebrate one of its all-time greats later this fall. On October 25, when the Cowboys battle rival Colorado State inside War Memorial Stadium, Ryan Yarborough will be recognized for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Yarborough will be honored during an on-field ceremony that includes representatives from the National Football Foundation (NFF) and Fidelity Investments, the presenting sponsor of the Hall of Fame’s On-Campus Salutes since 2010. The presentation will feature his official Hall of Fame plaque as part of the nationwide initiative to recognize the 2025 induction class at their alma maters.
A household name for Pokes fans in the early ’90s, Yarborough was one of the most explosive wide receivers in NCAA history. The Park Forest, Illinois, native becomes the third Wyoming player to join the Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy alongside Cowboy legends Eddie “Boom Boom” Talboom and Jay Novacek.
Yarborough’s résumé speaks for itself. He was the first Cowboy to be named a two-time First Team All-American, leading the nation in receiving yards in 1992 (1,351) and again in 1993 (1,512). By the time he left Laramie, he held several NCAA records, including career receiving yards (4,357 at the time), most 200-yard receiving games (7), and most consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards (3). His 42 career touchdown catches still rank among the top ten all-time, and his 19.0 yards per reception remains an NCAA record for players with 200-plus grabs.
Under coaches Paul Roach and Joe Tiller, Yarborough helped guide Wyoming to a 26-21 overall mark, two Copper Bowl appearances (1990, 1993), and a share of the Western Athletic Conference title in 1993. That season he set single-season school records in receiving yards (1,512) and touchdown receptions (16)—marks that remain part of Cowboy football lore.
Following his decorated Wyoming career, Yarborough was selected in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He went on to play six seasons in the NFL, also spending time with the Packers, Ravens, and Saints. In 2003, he was inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame. Today, he continues to impact others as a coach and business consultant in Houston.
Yarborough is one of 22 individuals in the 2025 Hall of Fame class, which will be officially inducted on December 9, 2025, during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Their names will be forever enshrined at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, with each honoree receiving a custom Hall of Fame ring.
In addition to Yarborough, the Cowboy program boasts six other enshrinees connected to the College Football Hall of Fame. They include Talboom (2000), Novacek (2008), and legendary coaches Bowden Wyatt, Bob Devaney, Pat Dye, William “Lone Star” Dietz, and Dennis Erickson.
This fall, Cowboy fans will have the chance to celebrate one of their greatest playmakers when Yarborough takes his place in college football history—right where he belongs
.