Wyoming Adds Experience to Back End, Special Teams Units

LARAMIE -- Wyoming just added some depth to its secondary.

More importantly, maybe, a seasoned special teams standout.

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Nathanial Watson has committed to Jay Sawvel's program after spending his first three collegiate seasons down the road in Boulder. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound safety has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

"He will help us," said one source familiar with the late signing.

The Littleton, Colo., product, who played at Rock Canyon High School, was on the field for 158 snaps on four of the Buffs' special teams units: punt, punt return, kick and kick return. He was credited with "26 points," according to CU's official website. That includes three assisted tackles, 10 spring blocks, three forced fair catches and one downed punt. Nine times he was the first defender downfield.

Watson did appear in the secondary in two games, tallying six total snaps, five of which came late in the Buffs' 37-20 victory over Wyoming in a Week-4 meeting inside Folsom Field.

He capped the season with two solo tackles.

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Jones Thomas, who is also from Colorado, has all but locked down the starting free-safety spot after earning that title last fall. His running mate, Andrew Johnson, exhausted his eligibility. Justin Taylor left Laramie after just one season. He is now at Central Michigan, the Cowboys' Week-3 opponent.

Desman Hearns also returns to the nickel position after a breakout season in 2025 where he registered 35 tackles and tacked on two interceptions.

Sawvel and Co. again added a number of new faces to the back end of the defense this offseason: Jett Vincent (Colorado State), Travis Franklin (Jacksonville State) and Da'Marion Brownlee (Missouri Southern). Brooklyn Cheek and Jaden DaCosta are the only other safeties on the roster with experience in a Wyoming uniform.

Watson is the 21st known transfer to Wyoming since the portal opened in early January.

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 Gagliardi, Jared Newland, Ryan 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