Cowboy Defense Gets Last Laugh in Latest Physical Test

LARAMIE -- Terron Kellman was involved in yet another major collision.

The 5-foot-8, 210-pound running back patiently waited for his blockers to lock on before bolting through the first line of defense during an inside run-period at the conclusion of Saturday's practice in Laramie.

He couldn't make it through the second level.

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Brayden Johnson met the junior in the hole and drove the Charlotte transfer backward, sending the near sideline into a frenzy. The 245-pound linebacker, who spent the last three seasons at the Division-II level, wasn't the only one in that unit making plays, either.

Evan Eller joined the party. So did Tyce Westland, who spent his morning harassing quarterbacks.

Dante Drake, a sophomore defensive tackle, made a quick inside move and put two hands on signal caller Landon Sims in the backfield, drawing a series of whistles from head coach Jay Sawvel.

Linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz picked off a pass. Keany Parks also forced and recovered a fumble, simultaneously, ripping the ball out of the hands of tight end Jake Wilson just as he hauled in the pass.

"That was a great play by him," said Wilson, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound redshirt freshman. "I should have tucked that thing tighter ... I didn't expect that."

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While it was the offense that got the better of this same squad seven days ago in this very building, this two-plus hour exercise belonged to the stoppers.

"No, we definitely did," said sophomore safety Jaden DaCosta. "We came out to play. I mean, hardhat, lunch pail, we came out to do work. That's what it was."

Wilson, who was within earshot of the Portland State transfer, had no rebuttal.

"I think the defense got the best of us today," he admitted. "Coach Sawvel made it very clear, we have to be more physical. I think we are doing that right now. It was very, very tough today."

Wyoming's defense is in the middle of a rebuild, while the offense returns its starting quarterback Kaden Anderson, along with its leading wideout, Jaylen Sargent, and leading back Sam Scott. The tight ends are all back in the fold. So are three veteran linemen.

Sawvel and Co. brought in 11 new defensive transfers this offseason, including a handful of safeties.

Center Jack Walsh, right guard Caden Barnett and tight end John Michael Gyllenborg were sidelined for the final drives. Sawvel has said numerous times he isn't getting a starter "rolled up" during run-heavy periods.

Wyoming's second-year head coach dubbed this "Super Combat Saturday." It was every bit of that, especially over the last five periods.

The goal was to pick up 10 yards on three snaps, despite the defense knowing the running backs were getting the ball. Linebacker Gary Rutherford got the message, putting a shoulder into Nikos Varelas and driving him to the ground. Nickel corner Desman Hearns also stuffed Nico Hamilton.

"It was good combat," Sawvel said. "There was some good stuff there. There's a lot of periods there that were physical periods, between an inside-run, the blitz, the red-zone period, a couple of the team periods, and then, you know, this thing here at the end. So, yeah, I mean, it's a physical practice."

The Cowboys will be back on the practice field Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Sawvel said next Saturday will be the first scrimmage of the season inside War Memorial Stadium.

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