Batiste to Enter Transfer Portal, Pokes Down to Four QBs

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel said last week there is essentially a three-horse race for the back-up quarterback job in Laramie.

Mason Drube, Landon Sims and Gage Brook are all in contention for that coveted spot. Kaden Anderson, the presumed opening-day starter, has been "ahead of everybody" through four weeks of spring practice, Wyoming's second-year head coach added.

Get our free mobile app

Deyon Batiste is the odd man out.

Now, he's really out, opting to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound redshirt freshman becomes the fifth player to hit the open market this offseason, joining running back Harrison Waylee, edge rusher Sabastian Harsh (North Carolina State), nickel corner Wrook Brown and cornerback Charles Williams.

Batiste has four years of eligibility remaining.

Why was he fifth in the rotation?

"You have to have better attention to detail than all the other guys in front of you," Sawvel said last Tuesday. "I was up here Sunday watching the scrimmage and I think I left at like four o'clock. Landon Sims is sitting in the offensive staff room watching video -- and it wasn't of Saturday. It was stuff that he had done previously throughout the week. This guy lives it. Mason Drube lives it. Gage Brook has improved quite a bit.

"It's not a knock on Deyon, that way, but it's just, that's a shark tank a little bit right now."

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Double or nothing: Pokes' makeshift front five falters late

* Wyoming's Adrian Onyeigo learning the pass-rushing ropes

* Wyoming looking to add to roster with spring portal looming

* Can Wyoming's Gary Rutherford snag a starting gig?: 'No doubt'

* Wyoming cornerback to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

* Caleb Robinson: 'He was missed last year, for sure'

* Sawvel: It's a 'wide open' battle for back-up QB spot

* Cowboy football enters third week of spring camp

* Hendricks on edge rushers: 'Production pays the bills'

* Gary Harrell named running backs coach at Wyoming

* Pokes working on hurry-up offense, focus on 'middle eight'

* Cowboy defense gets last laugh in latest physical test

* Running back Terron Kellman bringing boom to Pokes' backfield

* Svoboda: 'I'm loyal to the core'

The southpaw, who was initially committed to Iowa State, said he didn't put much weight into the fact he was buried on the QB depth chart this spring. He said his focus was on his throwing motion and grasping the offense.

"I try not to think too much into it and just worry about myself when it comes to things like that," Batiste said. "I mean, I understand where he comes from. I feel like I just got to continue to get better."

Heading into the regular season finale last November at Washington State, Wyoming's quarterback room was razor thin.

Anderson suffered a season-ending concussion the week prior in a narrow home loss to Boise State. Jayden Clemons, who served as the back-up the year prior, unexpectedly left the program in October. The original opening-day starter, Evan Svoboda, was benched after a Week 7 setback at San Jose State. He then made the permanent move to tight end where he remains today.

That left Brook and Batiste.

Instead of relying on a signal caller who had never taken a college snap, Sawvel went back to Svoboda, who fired a go-ahead 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Michael Gyllenborg with just 24 seconds remaining.

The Cowboys left Pullman with the 15-14 upset.

"I feel like if I did get the opportunity, I probably could have," Batiste answered when asked if he was ready to start that night. "Everyone has the jitters, or whatever, but I think if I did go in I would've been alright. I'd get used to it."

Did he even know the playbook?

"I feel like there were certain things that I didn't know," he admitted. "It probably would have to get kind of simplified, dumbed down, or whatever, because I was on scout team. But, other than that, I feel like I did know a few things."

Batiste, a standout at Cy Park High School in the Greater Houston Area, threw for 1,113 yards and nine touchdowns during his senior season. He added three more on the ground, though he said last Tuesday he was a pocket passer.

He earned a three-star rating from 247sports and was named the 22nd-best QB in talent-rich Texas. Army offered him. So did Texas State. He ultimately gave a verbal commitment to Iowa State in June of 2023.

"We stacked two bad seasons on top of each other, so they kind of pulled away at the last minute right before signing day," Batiste said. "I got Wyoming maybe a week or two after that, so I just decided, you know, I'm going to just go ahead pull the plug and commit here."

Why Laramie?

"I feel like everybody's genuine," he continued. "This school stuck out more compared to how other guys recruit other people. I feel like they just care more here."

Sawvel said he wants to be a buyer during the spring transfer portal window. He's in search of a punter, running back, wide receiver and possibly a pair of defensive backs. He is also looking for a defensive end.

His wishlist also includes a "best available." Will that also mean a fresh face under center?

The market is set to close April 25, less than 24 hours prior to the Cowboys' annual spring game inside War Memorial Stadium. Players have to enter free agency before that date. They can sign with a new program at any time.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players