COWBOY UP

Wyoming QB tough as they come — and would love to play in New York

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Walk into War Memorial Stadium with the snow-capped Laramie Mountains on the horizon and the new $45 million High Altitude Performance Center at the north end of the stadium and you will see this number — 7,220 — written in bold, gold letters along the brown sidelines.

The Jets or Giants may find their next quarterback playing 7,220 feet above sea level on Jonah Field on the campus of the University of Wyoming.

This is where Josh Allen played his home games during his college career, a career that will come to an end in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise on Friday against Central Michigan.

The 7,220 represents the highest point above sea level for any FBS college football stadium. It is there to send a message to opponents:

Breathe deep and fast, this is not your standard college campus.

Allen, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior quarterback from Northern California, graduated this month. He will be one of the first quarterbacks selected in the NFL draft; ESPN’s latest mock draft has him going fifth, though he could certainly be on the board when the Jets draft, which is projected to be around 10th.

IT IS NO surprise Allen’s football hero is another quarterback from Northern California, Tom Brady. Like Brady, Allen wants the longest of NFL careers.

“I would like to say I emulate Tom Brady and how he brings his emotions into the game,’’ Allen told The Post recently. “I just love when he pumps his arm on a first down and I feel his teammates rally around him, really feel how much he truly loves the game.

“I loved football for as long as I can remember, it’s the only thing I ever wanted to do with my life, be involved with this game,’’ Allen said. “So when I go out there, it’s all about winning the game and doing whatever it takes to put our team in the best situation possible to win a game.

“The main goal is to try and play 15-plus years in the NFL. It’s just weird how fast things are coming. I’m very anxious and excited for what comes next.’’

The Jets have shown much interest, having scouted every one of the Wyoming Cowboys games this season, home and away, sometimes with multiple scouts.

Allen, 21, has the arm, size, strength and work ethic to make it in the NFL.

Brent Vigen — Wyoming’s associate head coach, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach — knows quarterbacks. Vigen recruited one to North Dakota State to play for head coach Craig Bohl, who has been the Wyoming coach since December 2013.

That would be Eagles MVPcandidate Carson Wentz.

“Josh’s physical ability is exceptional,’’ Vigen said. “He’s a late-bloomer size wise. I think he has always had really good arm strength, even when he was undersized he could always wing it around. Since he’s been here, he’s become that much better of an athlete. He didn’t move particularly well as a high school player. As a quarterback, now he is on the high side athletically.

“I know his numbers haven’t reflected it this year, at least from the naked eye, but he has made so much progress. His competitive nature is tremendous. From [an intangible] standpoint, I think that is his greatest trait.”

In 14 games last year, Allen completed 56 percent of his passes for 3,203 yards with 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while running for 523 yards. In 10 games this season — working with a mostly new set of skill-position players — he has completed 56.2 percent of his passes for 1,658 yards with 13 touchdowns and six intercep- tions, while rushing for 207.

“We had Carson for his first three seasons [at North Dakota State],’’ Vigen said. “I think their physical attributes are very similar. In fact, Josh might have a little bit more arm strength than Carson did at this point and be a little bit more athletic. I think they both desire to be great.

“They both are extremely competitive and I think that comes from being overlooked, playing multiple sports, wanting to win at everything they do. I do see those comparisons being very similar. They both have a chip on their shoulder and they both understand the game.’’ Pretty heady stuff. “Carson’s intangibles are off the charts,’’ Vigen said. ‘That’s where I think it becomes a little unfair to compare. But I do think that Carson is a tremendous example for Josh.’’ There’s more. “Carson was willing to reach out to Josh last January and have a couple conversations with him about what going to the next level means,’’ Vigen said. Allen took those words to heart. “This was about two weeks before you had to declare if you were going back to school,’’ Allen said. “Carson gave me some insight what it was like in the NFL. The thing that stuck with me is that when he stepped into that locker room as a quarterback, he’s a high-round pick, they expect you to come in and lead and these guys are 30 years old that have families and they are counting on you to come out here and do your job to help secure theirs. That really stuck with me.

“Being in here with this offensive system with Coach Vigen and Coach Bohl it really translates over to the NFL,’’ Allen said. “As long as you’re trusting what they’re doing, the things you are doing in college are going to greatly help you at the next level.’’

Allen suffered a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder in Wyoming’s 28-14 win at Air Force on Nov. 11, and missed the last two games of the regular season (both losses) but will play in Boise.

ALLEN grew up on a farm in the two- stoplight farming community of Firebaugh, Calif., often rising at 5 a.m. to help on the farm. His grandfather, Buzz, was instrumental in having the local high school built, so it was no surprise that loyalty kept Josh home.

“He meant a lot to me,’’ Allen said of his grandfather. “Not just in the fact that in our community he was a good supporter of bringing the high school there. He put in roots for our family. He came to Firebaugh, got some land, and kind of made a name for himself and my father took over.’’

The impact of having their own local high school is everlasting, Allen said.

“That allowed so many kids to stay in town and really get a fair shot at playing sports,” Allen said.

Allen lives for competition. He played three sports — football, baseball (pitcher and first baseman) and basketball.

“I feel I’m a pretty good athlete because I allowed myself to play two other sports in high school other than football,’’ Allen said. “That really helped develop my skills. There’s a lot of different muscles you use in each specific sport, baseball, basketball and football. When you play three different sports that allows you to be a real athlete.’’

He never focused on the showcase treadmill of 7-on-7s that get so many college-bound quarterbacks noticed. Allen was not even allowed to try to walk-on at nearby Fresno State. He wound up at Reedley College, a community college based 20 miles outside Fresno. From there, he sent out 100 emails to coaches with a recruiting video attached before landing at 7,220 feet to play for Bohl, who had the good sense to look at the video.

Allen loves to play in the cold, wind, rain and snow. He’s built for the elements and a home field like MetLife Stadium.

“I always say that I’m physically blessed,’’ Allen said. “My mom and dad, they both have pretty big hands, and they passed that down onto me. So playing in the cold, it doesn’t really bother me and actually I really enjoy it. I get a better grip on the ball. It’s definitely something NFL teams will look at.’’

By KEVIN KERNAN

IT WAS a snowy night at War Memorial Stadium on Nov. 4 when Allen led the Cowboys to 16-13 comeback win over Colorado State and took possession of prized Bronze Boot, the traveling trophy awarded each year in the 109year old Border War.

After that game, Bohl said of the weather: “That’s why they call it Laradise.’’

“It’s a character-building experience,’’ Allen said of playing at Wyoming. “The people here are so great, it’s one of the different college towns in the country. There is not much to do, but you get to spend a lot of time with your teammates and I believe that’s why we are one of the tightest-knit teams in the country.’’

Allen described the final drive in the snow against CSU.

“They were taking their shots, they were talking all the crap they wanted to and actually after the fumble with 10 minutes left, they were dancing like the game was over.

“Our offense looked at that and said, ‘ This is ridiculous, we got one more shot,’ I wasn’t going to let go of that opportunity. We got down to around the 7-yard line and their guy tackled me after I got the first down and kind of went dead weight and dragged his body across mine, and I got up and let him have it. We scored two plays later and our defense sealed the deal. That was one of the more exciting games of my life.’’

Allen has never been to New York, but loves the passion of the fans and said, “If that’s the place I get to play, I’m all for it.

“Playing in the NFL is going to mean everything to me, that’s why the decision to come back last year was so tough,’’ he said. “I was so close to making my dreams come true, but coming back for another year of school, I’m learning so much.’’

Here’s the last word from Vigen about Allen.

“This place really matters to him, it wasn’t just about, ‘Hey I’ve got to come back and hone my skills,’ ’’ he said. “The way Josh has played and adjusted throughout the year to do whatever it takes to win, I think all that speaks volumes about his character, and his upbringing and what really matters to him.

“Wherever he goes, he is going to have to make adjustments, but whatever team gets him is going to get a guy who is going to be all in, and does whatever it takes. I don’t know in this day and age that all kids possess that.’’

Not many possess the arm, size and off- the- charts competitive nature.

Add it all up and that is 7,220 feet of endorsement for t he Wyoming quarterback.