40  Nick Landess
	Class: Junior Hometown: Casper, Wyo. High School: Natrona County Height / Weight: 6-3 / 203 Position: Place-kicker/Punter

UW This Season: Nick Landess battled for the starting place-kicking duties throughout 2009 spring drills. It was a close competition between Landess and senior Jake Scott then Landess strained a groin muscle, which limited his reps in practice. He will enter fall drills No. 2 on the depth chart at both place-kicker and punter. As he did a year ago, Landess will handle kickoffs for the Cowboys.

2008: Landess began the 2008 season as the Cowboys' starting punter for the first two games against Ohio and Air Force. He also started the final two games of the season at place-kicker versus UNLV and Colorado State, and handled kickoffs for Wyoming throughout the season. He averaged 36.3 yards per punt on three punts as a sophomore. He made two of three field goals on the season, connecting from 44 and 34 yards, while missing a 41-yard attempt. All of those kicks came in the season finale against CSU. Landess successfully converted all four extra points he attempted -- two at UNLV and two versus Colorado State. He entered his sophomore season after serving as the backup to former starter Billy Vinnedge the previous season. Landess earned Academic All-Conference honors and MWC Scholar-Athlete recognition for the first time in 2008. To achieve Scholar-Athlete honors a student-athlete must carry a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50.

2007: Landess appeared in two games in 2007 on the kickoff team -- at Boise State and at Air Force -- but did not attempt any punts, field goals or extra points in `07.

2006: Redshirted after walking on to the Wyoming Football program in the fall of `06.

High School: Landess averaged 41.2 yards per punt as a senior in 2005. He was named First Team All-State as both a punter and place-kicker, while helping lead Natrona County High School of Casper to an 8-2 record and the semifinals of the state playoffs. He was also First Team All-State as a junior in `04 when Natrona won the State Championship and posted a 9-2 record. His sophomore season, Natrona concluded a perfect 11-0 season by winning its first of two consecutive state titles. Landess also lettered on that squad as a high school sophomore. An outstanding basketball player, Landess averaged 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots his senior year. His junior year, Natrona County High captured the state basketball title with a 21-3 record. He was coached in football by head coach Steve Harshman.

Personal: Born Oct. 7, 1987, he is the son of Carita and Don Landess. Landess is studying physical and health education-teaching.