Round 1 of the 2024 NFR saw some Vegas rookies prevail and some teams fall short that we didn’t expect. We tapped Rhen Richard for his analysis on Round 1.
Table of contents
- Cody Snow & Hunter Koch
- Cyle Denison & Tanner Braden
- Erich Rogers & Paul Eaves
- Luke Brown & Travis Graves
- Clay Smith & Coleby Payne
- Derrick Begay & Jonathan Torres
- J.C. Yeahquo & Buddy Hawkins
- Jake Smith & Douglas Rich
- Andrew Ward & Kollin VonAhn
- Clint Summers & Jake Long
- Brenten Hall & Kaden Profili
- Coleman Proctor & Logan Medlin
- Kaleb Driggers & Junior Nogueira
- Dustin Egusquiza & Levi Lord
- Tyler Wade & Wesley Thorp
Cody Snow & Hunter Koch
Round 1: NT
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $118,268.78 / $120,279.79
Average: 0 on 1; 11/12/13/14/15
World Standings: 15
Richard’s take: That steer looked a little stronger. He kind of stepped left, and it looked like Cody maybe got in the wall a little bit. I don’t know, it just looked like something happened in the run that made it where they didn’t have any finish. I don’t know if they’ll make a horse change or what goes, but as good as those guys rope, they’ll bounce back. They’ll be right in the middle of it.
Cyle Denison & Tanner Braden
Round 1: NT
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $118,811.88 / $134,958.76
Average: 0 on 1; 11/12/13/14/15
World Standings: 14 / 11
Richard’s take: Cyle’s super talented. He’s kind of known to get it on them fast, so I think he might’ve just got a little excited and he threw pretty fast. I think he probably got the first time jitters out last night and he’ll bounce back and be fun to watch.
Erich Rogers & Paul Eaves
Round 1: 4.6
Round Winnings: $8,693.47
Total NFR Earnings: $8,693.47
World Standings Earnings: $127,006.73 / $127,605.74
Average: 4.6 on 1; 5
World Standings: 13 / 12
Richard’s take: That steer took a step to the right, and they made a great run. We all thought that they could make that run 10 times. So, I look forward to those guys doing really good this week.
Luke Brown & Travis Graves
Round 1: 6.8 + 5
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $127,418.34 / $122,042.13
Average: 11.8 on 1; 9
World Standings: 12 / 14
Richard’s take: Luke looked like he took an extra swing, the steer was kind of stepping to the left and it looked like maybe his horse wasn’t just real snappy up the wall and made the steer kind of stall out a little bit when Travis was throwing. Same deal, though [as Cody and Hunter]. Those guys have a run; they’ll bounce back tonight, and they’ll be right in the middle of it as well.
Clay Smith & Coleby Payne
Round 1: 4.7
Round Winnings: $5,433.42
Total NFR Earnings: $5,433.42
World Standings Earnings: $128,516.32 / $137,630.37
Average: 4.7 on 1; 6
World Standings: 11 / 9
Richard’s take: I think that was the first time Clay had rode that mare at a rodeo. They made a great run. She looked just a little bit green, like running to the cow, but same deal. I think he’ll get her dialed in and they’ll have a good week. Coleby, this is his first year making the Finals, and he did a great job last night. I was happy for him.
Derrick Begay & Jonathan Torres
Round 1: 4.2
Round Winnings: $14,126.88
Total NFR Earnings: $14,126.88
World Standings Earnings: $129,195.43 / $141,831.66
Average: 4.2 on 1; 4
World Standings: 10 / 7
Richard’s take: Derrick and Jonathan made a great run. Derrick, he had it on that steer fast and got his head fast. Jonathan comes tight really fast. We see those guys having a great week.
J.C. Yeahquo & Buddy Hawkins
Round 1: NT
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $136,295.58 / $124,789.14
Average: 0 on 1; 11/12/13/14/15
World Standings: 9 / 13
Richard’s take: I couldn’t really tell what happened on their run. Same deal (as Cyle): He threw pretty fast and maybe shot it past the right horn. But I mean, that kid, he’s super talented and he turns a lot of fast steers. Buddy, he’s a veteran and he’s not going to mess up very often. So, I see those guys doing good as well.
Jake Smith & Douglas Rich
Round 1: 4.8 + 10
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $139,366.12 / $139,366.12
Average: 14.8 on 1; 10
World Standings: 8
Richard’s take: Jake rode Boogie, a horse of Miley Richey’s. That horse is cool. He is 23 years old, been here a handful of times. I think if Jake takes that same start nine more times, he gets out of the barrier. So I’m hoping he doesn’t change anything and they make that same run and they’ll win a lot of money.
Andrew Ward & Kollin VonAhn
Round 1: 5.2
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $146,581.02 / $135,382.46
Average: 5.2 on 1; 7
World Standings: 7 / 10
Richard’s take: There were a couple steers right in a row that didn’t really start right before Andrew, and it was a good thing he scored because their steer, gate opened and the steer didn’t really go anywhere. He dang sure had to see something, and then the steer kind of took off and he had to reach a little bit. But I mean, Andrew and Kollin, they’re some of the best to ever do it. So those guys will be all they want this week.
Clint Summers & Jake Long
Round 1: NT
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $153,145.98 / $156,583.75
Average: 0 on 1; 11/12/13/14/15
World Standings: 6
Richard’s take: That was the steer that, I don’t know what happened, but he went straight right, and it looked like Clint might’ve missed the barrier just a little bit. Then when the steer went right that hard, it just made everything worse. But those guys won four rounds last year and had a chance to win a gold buckle in the end, so they’ll bounce back and be fast in the rounds and could possibly still win the average with a no-time.
Brenten Hall & Kaden Profili
Round 1: 3.9
Round Winnings: $26,623.74
Total NFR Earnings: $26,623.74
World Standings Earnings: $162,286.89 / $163,459.95
Average: 3.9 on 1; 2
World Standings: 5
Richard’s take: That was Kaden’s first time last night and they go 3.9 and win second. I thought they made a heck of a run. Brenten looked like he’d been working on riding his horse across the line and getting the steer on a short rope, so I loved that run out there. A lot of control. I see those guys doing good.
Coleman Proctor & Logan Medlin
Round 1: 4.0
Round Winnings: $20,103.64
Total NFR Earnings: $20,103.64
World Standings Earnings: $185,893.93 / $172,660.72
Average: 4.0 on 1; 3
World Standings: 4
Richard’s take: Coleman and Logan, they’re always fast and good out here. Coleman, he’s so good out here; he’s got really fast hands, and he even got an extra swing off last night and was still 4.0. They said the steers are good out here this year, and I see those guys being a contender in the end.
Kaleb Driggers & Junior Nogueira
Round 1: 4.3 + 5
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $187,360.55 / $198,486.30
Average: 9.3 on 1; 8
World Standings: 3
Richard’s take: Driggers actually rode my old horse last night. I think they’ll do good this week. That horse is pretty honest and as good as Kaleb is, I think they’ll hit a lick. Junior rode a horse that he just got from Clay Futrell, so they were both riding horses they’ve never rode at a rodeo. Hopefully it was just kind of first time getting them figured out, and they’ll get on a roll the rest of the week.
Dustin Egusquiza & Levi Lord
Round 1: NT
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: 0
World Standings Earnings: $211,007.70
Average: 0 on 1; 11/12/13/14/15
World Standings: 2
Richard’s take: It looked like Dustin’s horse kind of got him in the box a little bit. I see them maybe making a horse change tonight—I don’t know, I hadn’t talked to Dustin. But he’s as rank as there is, and he’s going to turn some of the fastest steer all week. And Levi, he’s done a great job the last few years heeling for Dustin, so I see those guys winning a few rounds and placing deep all week.
Tyler Wade & Wesley Thorp
Round 1: 3.7
Round Winnings: $33,687.18
Total NFR Earnings: $33,687.18
World Standings Earnings: $235,424.74
Average: 3.7 on 1; 1
World Standings: 1
Richard’s take: They’ve got something figured out right now that it seems like some of the other teams don’t. TWade, he has no doubt what he’s going to do and Thorp’s obviously one of the best in the world. He comes tight, maybe faster than anybody and they made a great run last night.
