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 DonawayJason 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 | Jordan Styles

YEAR | Freshman

HT/WT | 6' 0", 200

HOMETOWN | The Woodlands, Texas

POSITION | Wide receiver

JERSEY NUMBER | N/A

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | College Park High School

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Four

NOTABLE |  Air Force and Navy wanted Jordan Styles. So did defending FCS National Champion Montana State, led by former Wyoming offensive coordinator Brent Vigen. The 6-foot, 200-pound wideout caught 110 passes for nearly 1,700 yards and 17 career touchdowns while playing his prep football in the Greater Houston Area. The dynamic playmaker also added 160 yards on the ground last fall. That damage came on just 18 attempts. Styles earned all-district honors and was invited to the Navy All-American Combine.

QUOTABLE | "When we would sit down and talk, the fact that those two guys, in particular, fit a size, body type and skill set that we have lacked here, really for a period of time. That's just the physicality to go across the middle and do things, but also the physicality to block and physicality to run after the catch. I mean, there are just so many different layers to it. Like, little guys get tired, but big guys never shrink, you know?," -- Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel on signing Texas wideouts Jordan Styles and Jarell Gary.

 

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

* CB - Kendall Griffin

* RB - Diore Hubbard

* DE - Jack Dunkley

* S - Therman 'Boogie' Williams

* LB - Mason Wright

* DT - Ja'Quan Redfern

* DT - Tanielu Maafala-Barbasa

* DE - Thaddeus Gianaris

* OG - Chandler Donaway

* C - Jason Maciejczak

* OL - Grant Lott

* OL - Jeremiah Katt

* TE - Tyler Siddons

* DE - Donnie Wingate

* LS - Nathan Curry 

* S - Nathanial Watson

* RB - Ryken Banks

* LB - Dante Bruley

* DT - MacGregor Byers

* OL - Pierce Decker

* TE - Colin Ford

* LB - Boston Gable

* OL - Jackson Garrett

* WR - Jarell Gary

* QB - Taylor Hasselbeck

* DE - Beck Haswell

* DT - Xavier Jackson

* TE - Ishmael Muhammad

* OL - Jonathan Pearcy

 

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

Brooklyn Cheek Eyeing Starting Gig in UW Secondary

Drake's Love Affair With Football Rekindled Through Adversity

Richardson Has Coming-Out Party in Pokes' Spring Game

Cowboy Offense Finds End Zone Five Times in Spring Game Victory

Pokes' Latest Downfield Threat May Have Been on Roster All Along

Wyoming Teammates on Johnathan Bush: 'He's Our Psycho'

Josh Allen to Tyler Hughes: Wyoming Football 'One Step Away'

New UW President on Athletics: 'We Will Compete'

Landon Sims: 'You Can't Get Rid of Me That Easy'

Sawvel Believes This Could Be His Best Defense at Wyoming

Lofty Expectations Ahead for Desman Hearns

Wyoming's Staff Expecting Inside Dominance From Jayden Williams

PJ Jackson Looks an Awful Lot Like a Former UW Receiver

Are the Cowboys Really Flirting With Adding an Option Attack?

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert GagliardiJared NewlandRyan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

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