Cowboy Christmas is right around the corner, and the best in the world are hot on the 2024 ProRodeo trail heading out to the Reno Rodeo, Greeley Stampede and into the Great White North for the Ponoka Stampede. As the summer kicks into high gear, we look at the Top 15 in the PRCA team roping world standings, recognizing the NFR rookie hopefuls and missed faces.
Who is inside the Top 15?
As of June 24, 2024
| 1 | Dustin Egusquiza | $84,472.92 |
| 2 | J.C. Yeahquo | $76,592.33 |
| 3 | Clint Summers | $67,143.37 |
| 4 | Jake Smith | $60,788.73 |
| 5 | Andrew Ward | $56,544.79 |
| 6 | Derrick Begay | $54,773.27 |
| 7 | Clay Smith | $50,739.30 |
| 8 | Kaleb Driggers | $50,263.39 |
| 9 | Brenten Hall | $46,260.41 |
| 10 | Tyler Wade | $43,626.16 |
| 11 | Jake Clay | $43,254.75 |
| 12 | Cody Snow | $39,164.07 |
| 13 | Coleman Proctor | $37,523.37 |
| 14 | Marcus Theriot | $37,388.92 |
| 15 | Chad Masters | $35,618.41 |
| 1 | Levi Lord | $84,472.92 |
| 2 | Buddy Hawkins | $81,158.39 |
| 3 | Jake Long | $70,581.14 |
| 4 | Douglas Rich | $60,788.73 |
| 5 | Coleby Payne | $60,739.30 |
| 6 | Colter Todd | $52,904.02 |
| 7 | Kaden Profili | $49,633.31 |
| 8 | Wesley Thorp | $43,626.16 |
| 9 | Junior Nunes Nogueira | $43,397.70 |
| 10 | Trey Yates | $43,254.75 |
| 11 | Hunter Koch | $41,175.08 |
| 12 | Tanner Braden | $40,836.24 |
| 13 | Wyatt Cox | $39,239.96 |
| 14 | Ross Ashford | $38,315.80 |
| 15 | Jonathan Torres | $38,204.18 |
New Kids on the Block
While their names are known in the world of team roping, there are some unfamiliar faces inside the Top 15 as of June 24, gunning for their first-ever NFR qualifications in 2024.
J.C. Yeahquo saw some time inside the Top 15 last year, but 2024 sees him in unfamiliar territory as he sits No. 2 in the world with $76,592 won on the year thus far. Yeahquo kicked off his year heading for six-time NFR qualifier and 2021 NFR average champion Buddy Hawkins and winning RodeoHouston in March. Yeahquo’s and Hawkins’ most recent checks came from Grover’s Earl Anderson Memorial Rodeo and the Evergreen Rodeo, both held the weekend of June 15 in Colorado.
Jake Smith sits No. 4 in the world heading standings with $60,789 won with Douglas Rich. Smith just recently switched over to the head side in 2023 after heeling since he first stepped onto the ProRodeo scene in 2012 with older brother and two-time World Champion Clay Smith. Smith and Rich have had a solid June, picking up major checks in Eagle Mountain, Utah; Union, Oregon; Sisters, Oregon; and Vernal, Utah.
The Top 15 on the heel side is full of NFR rookie hopefuls, with Coleby Payne kicking it off in the No. 5 spot. Payne is again heeling for Clay Smith in 2024. Payne finished their inaugural season 17th in the 2023 world standings. This year, Payne has $60,739.30 won thus far, thanks to his sizeable win at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in February.
Reigning Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year Kaden Profili heels for fellow young gun Brenten Hall, who has three NFR qualifications under his belt. Profili sits No. 7 with $49,633.31, with his biggest checks coming from second in Fort Worth and winning Logandale, Nevada.
Tanner Braden sits No. 12 in the world standings with $40,836.24 won on the year. The Oklahoma heeler kicked 2024 into gear after finishing third in Houston for $25,922 with three-time NFR header and 2021 NFR average champion Andrew Ward. Braden is now paired up with Cyle Denison for the summer.
Right behind Braden at No. 13 sits Californian Wyatt Cox. Cox currently has $39,239.96 won and is heeling for two-time World Champion Chad Masters. Cox is the 2021 Reno BFI Open Champion (with Kolton Schmidt) and has finished as high as 22nd in the world standings since buying his card in 2014.
Welcome back
Then, there’s a handful of team ropers who haven’t seen the bright lights of Las Vegas in a few years and are fighting hard to make their way back in 2024.
Brenten Hall is No. 9 with $46,260.41 won on the year. The 25-year-old last made the NFR in 2021 heading for Chase Tryan and finished the year with $87,860 won. Now, Hall is roping with fellow young gun Kaden Profili.
Cody Snow missed his first NFR in 2023 after securing a Top 15 spot for seven consecutive years (2016-2022). The Californian-turned-Texan is currently No. 12 in the world standings with $39,164.07, and he is heading for Hunter Koch. Snow won the 2019 NFR average with reigning World Champion Wesley Thorp.
Chad Masters needs no introduction with 15 NFR trips, two world titles and three NFR average wins to his name. Masters missed the Finals in 2023 but sits No. 15 in the 2024 world standings with $35,618.41. Masters is taking on the year with Wyatt Cox, and the two won the Red Bluff Round-Up back in April.
Douglas Rich made his first NFR in 2021 and has been hunting for his second qualification ever since. Heeling for Jake Smith, Rich is sitting pretty at No. 4 with $60,788.73. The Illinois cowboy roped at the 2021 NFR with Coy Rahlmann and finished 11th in the world with $74,227.
Trey Yates finished just outside the Top 15 last year at No. 19. The three-time NFR qualifier is currently No. 10 in the 2024 world standings with $43,254.75. Yates is roping behind Jake Clay, who made his first NFR appearance last year. When Yates last made the trip to the NFR in 2022, he finished eighth in the world with $193,306.
Ross Ashford is in a similar boat as Rich. Ashford made his first and, so far, only trip to the NFR in 2021, and he ended the year 14th with $103,859 won. Ashford is heeling behind Coy Rahlmann this year and sits 14th with $38,315.80.
