Welcome to Wyoming Football: Karson Butts
LARAMIE -- Wyoming, once again, has welcomed nearly 50 new faces to the roster this offseason.
Transfer portal era, am I right?
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 | Karson Butts
YEAR | Sophomore
HT/WT | 6',2", 236
HOMETOWN | Wichita, Kan.
POSITION | Linebacker
JERSEY NUMBER | 16
PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Garden City Community College
YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Three
NOTABLE | Central Michigan offered Karson Butts. So did Southern Illinois. The 236-pound linebacker from Wichita, Kan., chose Wyoming. He tallied 66 tackles, a sack and an interception during his lone season at Garden City Community College. That production earned Butts All-Jayhawk Conference honors. According to 247Sports, he was also listed as the 15th-best linebacker in the junior college ranks.
QUOTABLE | "There's so much potential there with all those guys. We'll see them battle it out. They had the nice safety blanket with Evan (Eller) last year. Evan and (nose tackle) Ben Florentine were awesome leaders for us, and we've got to replace that, the stuff that you won't see until we get to a game." -- Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Aaron Bohl told gowyo.com, referring to a group of talented linebackers, led by Gary Rutherford and Ethan Stuhlsatz.
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
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
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
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