Lofty Expectations Ahead For Wyoming’s Desman Hearns

LARAMIE -- Brooklyn Cheek emphatically spun the football on the turf in front of him before busting into a celebratory dance.

Wyoming's sophomore safety just picked off an out route Saturday near the visiting sideline inside War Memorial Stadium. Tyler Hughes tried threading the throw into a tight window.

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It was slammed shut. Literally.

Cheek wasn't the only Wyoming defensive back eyeing that risky decision. Desman Hearns was also making a beeline in that direction. The 193-pound senior bore the brunt of the friendly-fire collision that followed.

"I'm still recovering from it right now," Hearns said with a smile, following a more than two-hour practice. "It doesn't feel too good, but I got back in the rotation ... We got the pick. That's all that matters."

Hearns, who transferred to Laramie from Southern Illinois last offseason, was responsible for two of the Cowboys' 10 interceptions last fall. The seasoned nickelback snagged one of those inside the red zone in a Week 2 meeting with visiting Northern Iowa.

The next came in the most-important game of the season.

On the second offensive drive of the night, Colorado State quarterback Jackson Brousseau reeled in the shotgun snap, immediately rolled to his left before planting his feet at the near hash and whistling a pass toward the sideline.

Hearns wasn't fooled one bit.

He jumped the route near midfield and got a foot in bounds. Six plays later, wide receiver Michael Fitzgerald hauled in a 22-yard touchdown strike in the corner of the end zone from Kaden Anderson to give Wyoming a commanding two-touchdown advantage in what would eventually become a 28-0 blanking of Wyoming's Border War rivals.

It's the plays he didn't make that still stick with Hearns.

He allowed 38 catches on 66 targets. That included four touchdowns, two of which came in a forgettable first half against the Mountain West -- and nation's -- top deep threat, San Jose State's Danny Scudero.

Hearns also got his hands on six passes, one that could've turned the tide in a 31-17 home loss to UNLV.

"Last year, I did leave a couple of plays -- a couple of interceptions -- on the field," he said. "I feel like this year that's what I'm focused on, getting my work in by getting on the JUGS machine."

Rough start, letting Cheek grab that gift in practice, huh?

"Yeah, there's always tomorrow," Hearns joked.

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Hearns was a top target for this staff in the offseason. When it came to retaining players, he was right near the top of the list, especially on a defensive unit that lost nine starters, including two impact cornerbacks, Markie Grant and Tyrese Boss, to the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Exactly a month before free agency officially opened, Hearns went to social media where he shared the following: "I’m not going anywhere! Excited to run it back with my guys. I believe in this team, our staff, and this university."

"He was certainly in the top group," Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said, referring to the players he earmarked for return in 2026. "Dez appreciates this program, appreciates how he's coached by (safeties coach Jason) Petrino, and from the strength and conditioning part of things. Dez has big goals that he wants to achieve, and he didn't feel it was in his best interest to then start over at another place."

In this day and age of college football, it takes a financial commitment, too.

"I think we put him in a spot where he's like, 'hey, you know what, I'm happy with this and I like the program, I like the place,'" Sawvel added. "Let's go."

Hearns tallied 36 tackles out of the Cowboys' secondary. An impressive 31 of those were solo stops. He also forced a pair of fumbles. His strength, speed and weight are all trending upward, according to Sawvel. Hearns said he loves hovering around the line of scrimmage where there are more plays to be made.

He also now has a year's worth of production in this scheme.

Aaron Bohl called Hearns all but irreplaceable.

"Cover guys are so valuable," Wyoming's third-year defensive coordinator said. "His mindset has been really good ... I want to see him grow in the way of, you know, taking command of the secondary, at times, and then also just consistency. He had a couple turnovers and he had a lot more out there. I know he wants to finish those plays, as well."

Hearns said it feels good to have the confidence of the staff. He said this group is already "tighter" than at any point last year. A leadership role is also in his crosshairs. He wants to act as a mentor, too, he added.

His personal expectations are lofty. They should be, Sawvel said.

"Of all the nickels that we've had since we've been here, he's got the best combination of everything," he continued, referring to the likes of Keonte Glinton, Keyon Blankenbaker and Wrook Brown. "He's physical in the perimeter and he can cover well. So, you know, he's got a great mix of everything."

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players