LARAMIE – Frank Crum won't have a problem using the back door to enter the NFL.

Six years ago, the lanky offensive line prospect from Laramie was an uninvited witness to historical greatness during Josh Allen's Pro Day workout in Wyoming's Indoor Practice Facility.

"I had to sneak in here," Crum recalled after working out for scouts from 26 NFL teams last month in the IPF. "We played hooky (from school) that day."

Craig Bohl didn't welcome Crum with open arms or any promises during the recruiting process. The former UW head coach famously told the legacy recruit he would have to earn everything he got in the program his grandfather Earl and father Gary also played for.

"I told him we were going to offer him, and I wanted him to think about that because there would be no quitting and that he was going to have to work extremely hard," Bohl said during fall camp last August before Crum's sixth and final season with the Cowboys. "I also told him we were rolling the dice a little bit on whether he was going to take ownership to get bigger and stronger, and he's done all that. His recruitment was certainly more art than science. He took ownership of his development, and he represents this state well. He's on everybody's NFL draft board right now."

Despite being projected as a sixth- or seventh-round pick, Crum didn't hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft over the weekend.

The 6-foot-7, 318-pound left tackle has a chance to kick the door down anyway.

Crum, an all-Mountain West first team selection last season, signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent on Saturday night.

Three of Crum's teammates – linebacker Easton Gibbs (Seattle Seahawks), tight end Treyton Welch (Cleveland Browns) and wide receiver Ayir Asante (New York Giants) – will also have opportunities to make their NFL dreams come true as undrafted free agents.

According to research done by Yahoo! Sports, 80 undrafted players were in starting lineups during Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, which was more than any of the final four rounds.

More than 11% of all NFL starters in 2023 went undrafted. From 2019 to 2023, more than 12% (429 players) of NFL starters were undrafted.

Crum understands there is more development and work to do to actually get on the field to protect Broncos' first-round quarterback Bo Nix down the road, but he has already come so far during his time with the Pokes.

"My freshman year, I didn't know I had it in me," Crum said at his Pro Day. "I wasn't physically mature at the time and was still figuring out my size. To finally be here and see everything come to fruition has been awesome."

One of the advantages undrafted free agents have over picks taken in the late rounds is they get to choose where to sign. The Broncos did not draft any offensive tackles, which is an area of need on Sean Payton's roster.

Crum, who was considered the top prospect available at his coveted position for most of the seventh round, will be given the same chance to make Denver's team during training camp and the preseason as the draft picks.

It's probably not a coincidence Crum ended up with the Broncos considering one of the team's longtime scouts, Dave Bratten, ran UW's Pro Day drills this year.

Crum improved his reps in the 225-pound bench press from 22 at the NFL Scouting Combine to 27 in the friendly confines of the weight room in the High Altitude Performance Center. He already went viral in Indianapolis after running the 40-yard dash in 4.94 seconds with his blonde locks flowing during the performance at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"Any spotlight that I can put on Wyoming, I'll do that for sure," Crum said. "I think it's funny my hair has been gaining some traction. There's been some doubters. It is real. The curls are natural. This isn't permed or anything. It is blonde naturally."

Gibbs will try to become the third consecutive UW starting middle linebacker to make the NFL after following in the footsteps of Logan Wilson (Cincinnati Bengals) and Chad Muma (Jacksonville Jaguars) in Laramie.

Welch, who has all the physical traits NFL personnel look for at tight end, reportedly had offers from half the teams in the league on Saturday night.

Asante, who shined in his one season at UW after a decorated career at Holy Cross, will have a chance to play for the Giants near his hometown in New Jersey.

"Coming to Wyoming was probably one of the best decisions I've made in my football career," Asante said. "Just the opportunity to get out here, play against bigger competition and better competition and get on a national scale and just to be able to be put in the spotlight."

There were already nine former UW players on updated NFL rosters before this year's draft.

The Buffalo Bills traded up to the No. 7 overall make to make Allen their franchise quarterback in 2018. Marcus Epps (sixth round 2019), Wilson (third round 2020) and Muma (third round 2022) were also drafted.

Longtime NFL starters Tashaun Gipson Jr. (San Francisco 49ers), Mike Purcell (Denver Broncos) Carl Granderson (New Orleans Saints), Andrew Wingard (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Tyler Hall (Atlanta Falcons) all went undrafted coming out of UW.

"Those guys paved the way," Crum said. "It shows teams that being from Wyoming, there aren't a lot of us, but don't overlook us. That's for sure."

If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.