Jay Sawvel on Freshman RB: ‘I’m a Big Patrick Broadway Fan’

LARAMIE -- Wyoming needed a fallback plan at running back this winter when Grayson Rigdon asked to be released from his national letter of intent.

The four-time state champion penned on social media Jan. 16 he was backing out of his commitment because of a recent coaching change in Laramie. That was in reference to running back coach Gordie Haug, who announced two weeks prior he would be accepting a new role at the University of North Dakota.

Get our free mobile app

Rigdon actually asked out of his contract before Christmas, Jay Sawvel divulged during his signing day press conference.

"You get to a point if a guy doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here, because in six months, he's going to want to transfer anyway," Wyoming's head coach said, failing to mention Rigdon by name. "... I was also going to make sure that release was granted when it's most advantageous for our program. So, that's why that release didn't come until about the third week of January."

Internally, Sawvel and Co. played hardball. In reality, though, they needed to add another high school tailback to the roster.

They did just that. And the rookie happens to be a 2,000-yard rusher in the highest classification in the state of Texas.

"He's a 200-pound guy right now that's very strong," Sawvel said. "We had a mid 4.5 (40-yard dash) number on him at the TCU camp when we were there last summer. I don't know that we could have done any better in that situation than Patrick Broadway.

"I'm a big Patrick Broadway fan."

Here's why.

The Fulshear High School standout rushed for 2,134 yards last fall on just 187 attempts, eclipsing the 100-yard mark on the ground in 12 games. That's bound to happen when you average an eye-popping 11 yards per carry. Broadway also found the end zone 29 times

Broadway added 10 grabs out of the backfield for 129 yards and two more scores.

He was named the District 20-6A Offensive MVP and took home First Team honors for the second consecutive season. He was also a finalist for the Texas 6A Running Back of the Year.

Sawvel said he flew down to the Houston area to meet with Broadway in person a week before signing day. He was impressed with his film. He was even more swayed by the man himself.

"I want to get a feel for this. I want to truly figure out if I like this guy," Sawvel said, referring to that trip. "It didn't take me more than a couple minutes to where I was like, 'Yeah, OK'

"I only get one shot on the road to go see that person. So, you know, sitting with him face to face, that was pretty easy."

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Wyoming Football Announces Full 2025 Schedule

* Wyoming's football staff shifting focus to self-evaluation

* No concern in Wyoming's receiver room heading into spring

* Wyoming overhauling defense with 'winnable players'

* Jay Sawvel: 'We will never vote for captains again'

* Are Wyoming players being tampered with? You bet, says Sawvel

* Wyoming Football: News and Notes From Traditional Signing Day

* Wyoming football puts a bow on '25 recruiting class

* Wyoming receives commitment from 2,000-yard rusher

* Defensive tackle Gabriel Ikechukwu commits to Cowboys

* Wyoming set to ink another defensive end in 2025 class

* New Wyoming linebacker eager to 'level up' to FBS

* Cowboys sign JUCO defensive end with 23 career sacks

Broadway received little fanfare despite having a breakout prep career that included nearly 4,000 career rushing yards and 42 touchdowns. He narrowed his selections down to four in February. Along with Wyoming, he gave some serious thought to Prairie View A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Concordia-St. Paul.

Broadway also received interest from Lincoln University (Missouri), Sterling College (Kansas), Millsaps College (Miss.), Maryville College (Tenn.), Midwestern State (Texas), Hardin-Simmons and East Texas Baptist.

Not exactly the who's who of college football.

What gives?

"I think he's kind of a victim of 2025 recruiting in the sense with transfer portals and numbers of schools taking less and less high school players," Sawvel said. "This was a guy that had a lot of people talk to him, but no one was pulling a trigger on him. And a lot of times, it's like, once there's one offer, then there becomes a dozen."

Donnell Kirkwood, the Cowboys new running backs coach, echoed those sentiments, adding some schools don't want to take the time to develop. Don't count him -- or Wyoming -- as one of those.

"I love that," he said. "I love to go find a kid that's 5-foot-10, 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, coming out of high school. He is physical as all get out, and that's what we're looking for. We're looking for physical, we're looking for good feet and a way to use his tools. He's that guy.

"He comes from a really good family and is supported, so it was awesome to find him and kind of maneuver."

Broadway will join a backfield that includes presumptive starter Harrison Waylee and last season's leading rusher Sam Scott. Wyoming also added Charlotte transfer Terron Kellman and holdovers Nico Hamilton and Dontae Burch.

Tyler Jacklich, who entered the transfer portal last fall, has also been welcomed back to the team this spring with no guarantee of making a roster spot. He will join a pair of true freshmen Jaden Lawrence (Parker, Colo.) and Samuel "Tote" Harris (Cibolo, Texas).

Sawvel said he hopes to add one more back during the spring portal window, which is open from April 16-25.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players