Jim Downs has known for a while that he was going to be a Wyoming Cowboy. He verbally committed to play football at UW this past summer and has been a Cowboy fan since moving to Cheyenne with his family when he was a toddler.

On Wednesday at Glenrock High School, Downs made it official when he signed his National Letter of Intent with UW.

"I've always wanted to be a Cowboy," Downs said. "I grew up in Wyoming, everybody in my family except for my mom graduated from Wyoming, we used to drive to Laramie to all the games … I'm excited."

As a senior at Glenrock - his family moved there when he was in sixth grade - Downs also generated some excitement of his own. A 6-foot-7, 265-pound offensive tackle, Downs helped pave the way for the Herders' rushing attack all season. He was an all-state performer as well as a member of the Star-Tribune's Super 25 first team.

Glenrock averaged a state-best 382.4 yards rushing per game en route to a 9-2 record. The Herders lost to Kemmerer in the Class 3A state championship game.

Even though Downs grew up a Cowboy fan, it wasn't until he attended football camp at UW last summer that he was completely sold on the Pokes and head coach Joe Glenn and his staff.

"All the coaches are first class," he said. "And coach Glenn is the real deal. He drove his convertible on to the practice field and got out and talked to all of us.

"He wants to get to know you and to make you better. I think all of the coaches are about making you a better player."

Downs, who also is a starter on the Herders' basketball team and was a state track qualifier in the discus throw last spring, will play in the Shrine Bowl this summer before heading to UW.

"I want to get down there a little early, take some summer classes and get ready for the season," he said.

Downs added that he expects to redshirt his freshman season. Still, he can't help but imagine what it will be like to run onto Jonas Field at War Memorial Stadium for the first time in his brown and gold uniform. After all, he's been thinking about it his whole life.

"It's going to be amazing," he said. "It's going to be a dream come true."

Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.