Welcome to Wyoming Football: Ja'Quan Redfern

LARAMIE -- Wyoming, once again, has welcomed nearly 50 new faces to the roster this offseason.

Transfer portal era, am I right?

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Jay Sawvel again made a list of 10 "keepers" last December, heading into free agency. Running back Samuel "Tote" Harris was, no doubt, high on that list. So were defensive tackles Dante Drake and Jayden Williams. The Cowboys' third-year head coach also wanted to hang on to players like tight end Jake Wilson, wideout Deion DeBlanc, nickel corner Desman Hearns and offensive tackles Rex Johnsen and Braylon Jenkins, among others.

Mission accomplished. All are back for another round on the high plains.

The team did lose its top-four outside targets, including leading receiver Chris Durr Jr., who is now at Maryland. Two impact cornerbacks also hit the open market. Tyrese Boss is at Arizona. Markie Grant headed west to former conference rival Utah State.

Wyoming will also have a new quarterback under center, snagging William and Mary graduate transfer Tyler Hughes, who has one season of eligibility remaining. The hope is he'll right the ship at that spot, keeping the seat warm for Gillette's Mason Drube.

The Cowboys also reloaded in the offensive backfield and at the line of scrimmage, adding 1,000-yard rusher Markell Holman and interior linemen Chandler Donaway, Jason Maciejcak and Jeremiah Katt.

You'll read all about those guys, along with 20-plus freshmen, in this summer series: Welcome to Wyoming football.

NAME | Ja'Quan Redfern

YEAR | Junior

HT/WT | 6',3", 285

HOMETOWN | Vineland, N.J.

POSITION | Defensive tackle

JERSEY NUMBER | 44

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Murray State

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Two

NOTABLE | After losing a pair of potential starting defensive tackles -- Dante Drake and Caleb Robinson -- with season-ending injuries last summer, Wyoming's staff wanted a veteran depth piece this offseason. Enter Ja'Quan Redfern. After spending two seasons at Shippensburg University (Pa.) -- the same school that produced former Cowboy edge rusher Chisolm Ifeanyi -- Redfern spent the 2025 campaign at Murray State where he had 10 total tackles. He also added a sack and a tackle for loss. What is Redfern's claim to fame? He once tallied 33 tackles -- 22 solos -- in a single game at Schalick High School. That came during a 44-13 victory over Cumberland in 2023. Redfern missed much of the spring with an injury.

QUOTABLE | "We're taking in the teeth at the defensive tackle position. It's just like one bomb after another goes off at that position ... Redfern has been out. He practiced a little bit today, but that doesn't help us right now," -- UW head coach Jay Sawvel speaking on a laundry list of ailments that decimated the position during spring camp.

WELCOME TO WYOMING SUMMER SERIES:

* LB - Anthony Beavers Jr.

* S - Jett Vincent

* WR - Justin Popovich

* QB - Tyler Hughes

* CB - Junus McGraw

* RB - Markell Holman

* CB - Logan Mackey

* S - Travis Franklin Jr.

* WR - Jayden Williams

* LB - Karson Butts

* S - Da'Marion Brownlee