Kimball Madsen completed his prep job at Mountain See Substantial School as a single of the state’s most prolific offensive gamers. The 2020 graduate performed quarterback and managing back for the Buffalos as a sophomore and junior just before shifting virtually solely to working back again as a senior.
The 3-calendar year starter accounted for nearly 5,500 all-function yards and 52 touchdowns in serving to guide Mountain Check out engage in to 3 consecutive Class 2A condition championship recreation appearances and titles in 2017 and ‘19. Madsen was also a standout linebacker for the Buffalos.
Now the 6-foot-1, 210-pound multi-activity athlete — he was all-condition in basketball and aided the Buffalos win the 2019 Class 3A track and field championship — is prepared for his subsequent problem on the gridiron.
“I’m heading to wander on at Wyoming,” Madsen stated in a cell phone interview very last thirty day period. “I was heading to provide a mission and I went to the (Missionary Training Heart), but I felt there was something else I needed to be doing appropriate now.”
Right after returning from the MTC, Madsen attained out to UW tight finishes and fullbacks coach Shannon Moore, who experienced first contacted Madsen through his senior year.
“I referred to as up Mentor Moore and I explained to him I was likely to be attending UW in the fall,” Madsen recalled. “They had recruited me when I was in superior school so there was by now interest there and I realized the coaches.”
Madsen informed Moore that he was fascinated in participating in for the property-condition Cowboys. With no roster places available, however, the system was to have Madsen be an gear supervisor this period and then be a part of the staff up coming spring.
Everything seemed in area till Madsen gained a contact from Moore.
“He referred to as me out of nowhere and explained they experienced a place open due to the fact they were thin at fullback,” Madsen explained. “And he explained to the other coaches that he would select me over everybody else that was on the wander-on board.
“He asked me if I preferred to play and I explained, ‘Absolutely!’ There was no hesitation on my section.”
Madsen experienced received fascination from area schools like Rocky Mountain College, Colorado School of Mines and Dickinson State, among other folks, but none of them had the pull, or the status, of enjoying for the Cowboys.
“I’ve often wished to go to Wyoming,” he said. “And the coaches have finished a wonderful position stressing how critical it is for me to get an instruction and how substantially they’ll support me. Due to the fact I know that no matter if it is suitable right after superior school or in 20 many years, soccer finishes but obtaining an schooling doesn’t.
“But I also know if there is an prospect to enjoy I’ll leap all over it.”
Even if it implies participating in a posture he’s hardly ever played right before.
“I thought I was heading to be ready to play linebacker for the reason that that’s in which they had been recruiting me when I was in substantial college,” Madsen mentioned. “I thought at least it was going to be a defensive position, but when Coach Moore reported fullback I jumped all more than that.
“I’ve in no way performed fullback just before,” he extra, “but I’m up for the obstacle and I’m all set to go. I’m open up to any prospect I have to play soccer and I’ll do whatsoever I have to do to perform at UW. I’ll enjoy on the line if which is what they require.”
Madsen will be part of a fullback space that characteristics two other in-condition players in Parker Christensen (6-2,229), a redshirt freshman from Sheridan, and Caleb Driskill (6-2, 235), a freshman from Thunder Basin. Christensen, who played tight finish past period for UW, enters tumble camp atop the depth chart at the placement, when Driskill is shown as the backup.
Madsen expects to be in Laramie by the stop of the month in order to get acclimated prior to the begin of slide camp in August. With the perception that he’s accomplishing what he wants to at a area he loves, Madsen is ready for whatsoever arrives next.
“Looking again there is no way I could have seen this happening,” he stated. “But the way that all the things has worked out is sort of interesting.”
Adhere to sports editor Jack Nowlin on Twitter @CASJackN