Selmer Lane Pederson

Hometown: Lander, Wyo.
Sport: Football
Years: 1949-51

Called “the best safety in football” by Coach Bowden Wyatt, Selmer Pederson earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1950, and was a two-time all-Skyline Conference honoree. Known as a devastating tackler, Pederson started three years on the Cowboys’ dominating nationally-ranked defense and helped Wyoming to a 26-3-1 record in those years, including 13 shutouts. Pederson holds the Wyoming career record for interceptions in a single game with three vs. Denver in 1950 (tied with Brian Lee and Shamiel Gary). Also an outstanding punt returner, Pederson holds the Cowboy career records for punt return yards (1080) and average yards per return (13). He also holds Wyoming’s single-season record for average yards per punt return (16.1 in 1949) and the single-game record for average yards per return (36.3 vs. Montana State in 1949), despite opponents’ routinely kicking away from him. Pederson also set Skyline Conference records for most punt returns (83) and most punt return yards (1080). Following his senior year, Pederson played in the North-South All-Star game.