Six Former Cowboy Football Players Sign Deals With NFL Teams

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel will be the first person to tell you his program needs more draft picks and players in NFL camps.

At this time a year ago, that distinction belonged to Wyoming's all-time leading scorer, placekicker John Hoyland, who spent the offseason with the Baltimore Ravens.

"That's not good enough," the third-year head coach said last week. "I mean, say what you want, it's not good enough."

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That won't be the case this summer.

Though no former Cowboys heard their names called in the league's seven-round showcase, four have at least earned the opportunity to take the hard road via free agency.

Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, who grew up in the Kansas City suburbs, is getting a shot with his hometown Chiefs. Interior lineman Caden Barnett agreed to terms with the Chicago Bears and quarterback-turned-tight end Evan Svoboda has inked with the Los Angeles Chargers. Running back Sam Scott is also getting a look, heading to the Big Apple after signing with the New York Jets.

"I think it's a great perspective shift of how unique this opportunity is for the NFL," Gyllenborg said following his pro day workout in March, adding he gained confidence in the offseason, playing in the Senior Bowl and attending the NFL Combine. "The thing I've learned is the guys that do everything right, and, you know, learn up here, those are the guys that make it, and (Wyoming) has absolutely set me up for those things."

"I think I can make it at the next level," Barnett also said that day in Laramie. "I just got to keep grinding. I want to play football as long as I can."

Sabastian Harsh, who suited up at defensive end in Laramie 2021-24, before capping his career at North Carolina State, was also picked up by the Houston Texans, where he will join fellow Wyoming edge rusher Solomon Byrd.

Harsh, a Scottsbluff, Neb., native, tallied 97 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 33 games as a Cowboy.

Emmanuel Pregnon was the only former Wyoming player to actually get drafted last weekend. He was selected in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 6-foot-5, 318-pound Denver native was named a Freshman All-American after lining up at the guard spot for the Pokes in 2021. He played one more season on the high plains before eventually transferring to USC then Oregon.

Rookie mini camps start in coming weeks.

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Gyllenborg finished an outstanding career with the Brown and Gold ending his tenure with the Pokes with 80 receptions for 1,023 yards. He also added seven touchdowns for the Cowboys. Gyllenborg recorded 17 games with three or more receptions in his career.

This past season, Gyllenborg recorded 24 receptions for 217 yards with one touchdown. He added a career-high six receptions in his final career game against Hawai'i. He was named to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch list twice in his career.

He participated in the Senior Bowl in January and helped lead the American team to a 17-9 win. He added a catch in the contest for six yards. He also participated in the NFL Combine in February.

* A UW press release contributed to this report

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players