Welcome to Wyoming Football: MacGregor Byers

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

Transfer portal era, am I right?

Get our free mobile app

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 | MacGregor Byers

YEAR | Freshman

HT/WT | 6' 4", 255

HOMETOWN | Houston, Texas

POSITION | Defensive tackle

JERSEY NUMBER | N/A

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Strake Jesuit High School

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Four

NOTABLE | Mountain West foes Air Force and UNLV extended offers to three-star interior defensive lineman MacGregor Byers. So did Army. He chose Wyoming after a senior campaign that saw him average six tackles per game (79 total) and rack up 21 tackles for loss and seven sacks at Strake Jesuit High School, a private school in Houston. Byers, who was named the 20-6A Lineman of the Year and landed on the all-district first team, also forced a pair of fumbles and blocked a punt. He even took part in the annual Bayou Bowl, an all-star game that pits the best of the Greater Houston Area against Louisiana.

QUOTABLE | "He's a big, thick-jointed kid who's strong, has a high motor and going to be able to take on double teams. Great frame. We're excited to have him," -- Wyoming Director of Player Personnel Austin Maus speaking about MacGregor Byers on national signing day.

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