23  Ghaali Muhammad
	Class: Junior Hometown: St. Joseph, Mo. High School: Central Height / Weight: 6-0 / 221 Position: Running Back Pronunciation: GOLLY

UW This Season: A starting outside linebacker last season, Ghaali Muhammad made the move to the offensive side of the ball this past spring and will play running back this fall. He showed his athleticism at running back early in spring ball, but he missed the majority of spring practice after suffering an injury in the first scrimmage, which forced him to have surgery. Muhammad should combine with several talented UW running backs for a formidable backfield in 2011.

2010: Muhammad earned the starting nod at outside linebacker and made eight starts in 11 appearances, despite being hampered late in the season by an injury. He finished fourth on the team with 75 tackles, including 44 solo stops. His six tackles for losses of 15 yards were good for third on the squad. He also was credited with 1.0 sack, forced one fumble and had two pass breakups. Muhammad notched three double-digit tackle games during the season, including a season-high 12 tackles against Southern Utah. Another notable game of the season was a 10-tackle, two-TFL, one-sack and one-forced fumble performance versus Toledo.

2009: Muhammad made a dramatic entrance into college football when, in the second week of his true freshman season, he scored a touchdown on a blocked punt versus No. 2 ranked Texas. Muhammad picked up a punt blocked by fellow true freshman Luke Ruff, and ran it into the end zone from six yards out. Muhammad also concluded the regular season with another dramatic play, picking off a Colorado State pass to seal Wyoming's 17-16 win in the "Border War." For the season, Muhammad played both on special teams and at linebacker on defense. He earned two starts late in the 2009 season -- at San Diego State and versus TCU. His best single-game performance came against TCU as he recorded eight tackles. He was credited with 21 tackles on the season, including 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception and one pass breakup. At the team's awards banquet, Muhammad shared the Hammer Award, for the most big hits during the season, with 2009 senior John Fletcher.

High School: Muhammad earned All-City, All-Conference and All-District honors both his junior and senior seasons at Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo. He rushed for over 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns, while recording 246 receiving yards and two receiving TDs. He was selected his team's Offensive Player of the Year. His high school football coach was Tony Dudik.

Personal: Born Dec. 29, 1990, he is the eldest of two children of Jamma and Marcell Jackson. He was also recruited by Kansas, Missouri, Northwestern and Wisconsin. His cousin Martin Rucker was an outstanding tight end at Missouri from 2004-07. His cousin Mike Rucker was a talented defensive end, who played for Nebraska from 1995-98. Muhammad is majoring in sociology at UW.