Nic Talich: ‘I Couldn’t Love Wyoming Football More’

LARAMIE -- "Come on, Talich! ... One more play!"

Not even Craig Bohl's emphatic prompting was getting Nic Talich back on that field. It's not because he didn't want to, he physically couldn't.

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Hawaii running back Landon Sims caught a five-yard dump pass over the middle in the dying seconds of a fourth-quarter blowout last November in Laramie. Just as he hauled in the pass and took a step upfield, he was rudely dumped by the then-sophomore linebacker, courtesy of a perfect form-tackle.

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It was a feel-good moment for not only the head coach, but the home bench.

"I was disappointed," Bohl said during his postgame press conference after that 42-9 rout of the Rainbow Warriors. "Nic Talich got in there and -- I hate to say I have favorites, but he may be one of my favorites because I can relate to him -- he went out there and knocked the living snot out of a guy and got a stinger. He couldn't go back in.

"... So, as you know, Wyoming players are near and dear to my heart. A guy like that, to come out there ... It was great to see."

At the team's annual media day Wednesday in Laramie, Talich recalled that very moment. He suffered a broken elbow in high school and the pain he felt that afternoon was all-too-familiar. The 6-foot, 220-pound Cody product told Bohl he couldn't feel his hand.

"It felt like the same thing," he said. "I looked down and my arm was limp. I was like, oh crap, there we go again. It was just a stinger, so everyone gives me a tough time about it now, which is funny. That was definitely a cool moment."

There haven't been many of those during Talich's three-plus years on campus.

Buried on the depth chart at one of the program's most competitive positions -- one that has sent five recent players (Lucas Wacha, Logan Wilson, Cassh Maluia, Chad Muma and Easton Gibbs) to the NFL -- playing time has been limited, to say the least. According to the official stat book, Talich has just two career tackles. That blast against Hawaii and another in the 2023 season-opening upset of Texas Tech.

Talich's father, Jim Talich, is still Wyoming's third-leading tackler with 440 stops from the linebacker spot. Luke Talich, his younger brother, already registered a pair of tackles during his true freshman season out of the secondary at Notre Dame. The former walk-on was awarded a scholarship this offseason.

Known for his ever-present grin and friendly, laidback nature, does Nic Talich ever find himself discouraged about his playing situation?

You're kidding, right?

"I think, for me, this is where I was going to be if I was playing football or not, and I couldn't be happier. I couldn't love Wyoming football more," he said. "I just try to tell myself, my dream was to become a Cowboy -- and it still is, every day. I just try not to take it for granted and, you know, being positive, I get through it. I just love being here."

First-year head coach Jay Sawvel and Talich already have a history. After leading his high school team to a state title as a senior, and in the process tallying 128 tackles and picking off four passes, the legacy player was recruited to Wyoming as a safety.

That was short lived.

Sawvel, then the defensive coordinator and safeties coach, often jokes about Talich wanting out of his meeting room. That was not the position he wanted to play.

Why?

"I was terrible," Talich laughed. "I called my mom and I said, 'I'm the worst player on the squad right now.' It wasn't (Sawvel), it was his position. I don't think he wanted me there either, very much. So, I think it was good for both of us."

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The consistent pleading with then-linebackers coach Aaron Bohl finally paid off.

Beyond the field, Talich is a person that people gravitate to, Sawvel said. He's been known to take teammates fishing and hunting. Plenty of players on this roster can now point to Park County on a map thanks to him.

His love of Wyoming, Sawvel added, is also on display. That rubs off.

"Nic means a lot to our program," he said. "I think he's doing pretty well and he'll have some kind of a role on special teams. You appreciate his efforts."

If that's the part Talich is destined to play here, he's going to attack that head on.

"We're deep in the linebacker room -- and I couldn't love those guys more, or anyone on the team -- so wherever the coaches put me, I want to make an impact as much as I can," he said. "If that is special teams, I want to do it the best I can."

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players