COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Bull rider Wesley Silcox, who suffered a broken jaw Sept. 29 at the Ariat Playoff Series rodeo in Omaha, Neb., that required surgery the following week, has withdrawn from the $550,000 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championship, Nov. 9-11 in Dallas.

In his place, Logan Knibbe steps in and has a chance to control his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo destiny. Knibbe, from Stephenville, Texas, is ranked No. 13 in the latest Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings. Even though that’s within the Top 15 who qualify for the Wrangler NFR, six of the 10 bull riders below Knibbe in the standings in Dallas still have a mathematic chance of earning enough this weekend to reach Las Vegas while knocking him out at the same time.

“I had missed this rodeo (Dallas) by $300, and I felt terrible knowing that so many guys were trying to catch me and there was nothing I could do,” Knibbe said. “Now, I can be there and see it all take place.”

The last-minute change of plans meant Knibbe had to curtail study time for an upcoming trigonometry exam, his last class required for graduation from Tarleton State University (Stephenville) in December.

If things go as planned, he’ll be riding bulls at the Wrangler NFR instead of walking across the stage. That’ll be all right with Knibbe.

“If I had to choose, I’d take riding at the (Wrangler) NFR,” Knibbe said. “This will help my chances. This year, I’ve been blessed by being healthy, and so many things have gone my way this year that hadn’t in the past. Maybe this is my year.”

Silcox, ranked third in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings, was knocked out by DH&T Rodeo’s Cross Fire Hurricane in semifinal-round action at Omaha’s Qwest Center. The bull slammed its horn into Silcox’s jaw while bucking him off. Silcox underwent surgery Oct. 2 at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha to repair his fractured mandible and he received stitches to close the lacerations to his cheek and ear. He had his jaw wired shut and the wires are expected to remain in place until early December.

The PRCA, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the largest and oldest rodeo-sanctioning body in the world. The recognized leader in professional rodeo, the PRCA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of the sport.

The PRCA, a membership-based organization, sanctions more than 650 rodeos annually, which draws 24 million attendees. The PRCA showcases the world’s best cowboys in premier events through the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour and its championship events, Dodge Xtreme Bulls, the PRCA’s world-championship bull riding tour; and the world-renowned Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. PRCA-sanctioned rodeos, including the sport’s premier events, appear on the Outdoor Channel, Fox Sports, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.

Each year, PRCA-sanctioned rodeos raise more than $26 million for local and national charities.