JOHN WENDLING

Hometown:  Rock Springs, Wyoming
Sport:  Football
Years:  2003-06

Wendling concluded his Wyoming football career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history. A hard-hitting safety, he earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference as a sophomore and a junior, and was named First Team All-Mountain West Conference as a senior in 2006. His myriad of honors was highlighted by being named a second team All American by College Football News.com. He finished his four-year career ranked No. 10 in school history in career tackles with 259. He led Wyoming in tackles his senior season, being credited with 78. The Rock Springs, Wyo., native was elected Wyoming’s defensive team captain as a senior. Academically, Wendling earned a post-graduate scholarship by being named a finalist for the Draddy Trophy, which is presented annually by the National Football Foundation (NFF) to the top football scholar-athlete in the country. He earned another of the nation’s top academic honors when ESPN The Magazine named him a Second Team Academic All American in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Wendling also earned Academic All-Conference honors all four years of his career at Wyoming. He played in the East-West Shrine Game to conclude his college playing career and participated in the NFL Combine. Wendling was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 10th pick in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He also played for the Detroit Lions.