Can Wyoming’s Gary Rutherford Snag a Starting Gig?: ‘No Doubt’

LARAMIE -- Could Gary Rutherford really push a pair of seniors and eventually slide into a starting role at linebacker this fall?

"Oh, there's no doubt," Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said. "No doubt."

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The 6-foot-1, 231-pound Illinois native was nothing short of a pest during Saturday's sunny, yet wind-blown scrimmage inside War Memorial Stadium, setting up camp in the opposing backfield all afternoon.

When he wasn't in the face of the quarterbacks, he was flying to the football. Pads popped at the line of scrimmage, behind it and even at the perimeter. Just ask wide receiver Jaylen Sargent, who was scrambling to scoop up a botched jet sweep near the sideline early in the day.

"I just looked up and I saw Gary coming at me, full speed.," the senior said with a nervous laugh and a head shake. "I was like -- Gary is really good. I feel like he's going to make a huge impact for this team."

Dontae Burch was also on the receiving end of a violent stick, courtesy of No. 26, during this two-plus hour exercise.

While the fellow redshirt freshman had a nice outing of his own, shaking multiple defenders outside the box, the running back from Kansas City once found a brick wall.

"That's football," Burch said. "It does sting a little bit, but sometimes you gotta hit back and just embrace the hit and keep driving. But, it felt good. I got right back up, and I was ready to go again."

Rutherford appeared in four games last fall, maintaining his redshirt status. He did tally a tackle. That came against the Cowboys' most-hated rival, Colorado State. He said the decision to watch from the sideline for the majority of the 2024 season was fine with him.

He instead became a sponge and watched hours of film.

Rutherford also knows a pair of seniors -- Shae Suiaunoa and Connor Shay -- earned that right.

Sawvel, on the other hand, said he will now be more mindful of preserving eligibility with players testing free agency via the NCAA Transfer Portal in record numbers.

"In today's world, I don't know that I make that decision ever again," he added.

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Rutherford again finds himself behind a pair of elder statesmen.

Ethan Stuhlsatz (Lindenwood) and Brayden Johnson (Oklahoma Baptist) were brought in this offseason to not only add depth to a position that was decimated by graduation, but to likely take the two open jobs.

Both finished with at least 70 tackles last fall. Both were named to their respective all-conference team.

Rutherford, who has been working at the weakside, took the diplomatic route when told his head coach thinks he could be one of 11 to hit the field first Aug. 28 at Akron.

"It's good, but really, all the LBs, in general, we're just trying to keep pushing each other, keep pushing the whole defense, pushing the whole team and just getting better every day," he said. "I feel great, but there are always things that I can get better at."

Defensive tackle Dante Drake stood out Saturday. So did cornerback Keany Parks and edge rusher Kevin Sjogren. Caleb Merritt cleanly broke up a pass on the boundary. Andrew Johnson fell on a fumble.

It was Rutherford, though, who stole the show for this new-look defense.

"Gary's really good. That's my thoughts on him," Sawvel said post-practice. "Gary's going to be a really good player here. He's a football player. He runs well, but the biggest thing about him is he has this motor that does not stop. He will be around the ball every play he's in, so that's a big thing that you really appreciate."

Rutherford was listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 55 prospect in the state of Illinois by 247sports.com. He also earned First Team All-State Class 5A honors at both linebacker and receiver during his final season at Peoria High School.

He was also named to the Peoria Journal Star First Team All-Arena squad, along with a selection to the Big 12 All-Conference First Team.

Indiana and Washington State came calling. So did Toledo, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Illinois State.

"This is a kid that I would say, four years ago, no way we touch this kid -- he's in the Big Ten," former UW recruiting coordinator Gordie Haug said on signing day back in December of 2023. "Honestly, you watch him on tape and you could probably be like, hey, this dude can play safety. He is explosive. He can run, makes plays.

"... He's a big-time get for us."

Rutherford said the learning curve has flatlined. With the thinking part of the game now becoming second nature, he can now fly around the field.

His teammates, past and present, have noticed the difference.

"Compared to last year, he's taken huge strides," Sargent added.

"From my experience, playing both (middle) and (outside linebacker) during my time there, I believe Gary will become a great WILL backer," Suiaunoa said last month. "Gary is athletic, fast and allusive, while also being a good blitzer."

Kaden Anderson can attest to that. So can fellow signal callers Deyon Batiste, Gage Brook, Landon Sims and Mason Drube, who have all spent the last nine practices dodging Rutherford.

"You know you got to hit them in the game," Rutherford joked, referring to the QBs, who all wear blue jerseys in practice. "It's kind of hard (not to hit them). It's like, I don't know, should I tap his hip, should I not? I don't want coach to get mad at me."