NSD 2022: Wyoming lands highest-rated recruit ever
LARAMIE -- Landing a four-star recruit is a rare occurrence at the University of Wyoming.
How rare?
The last time the Cowboys inked one was two decades ago. That was Jon Hawk, an offensive guard out of Garden City Community College in Kansas. Remember him? Of course you don't. He never played a down in Laramie.
That all changed today.
DeShawn Woods, 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman from Omaha Central High School, committed to the Cowboys today, becoming the highest-rated recruit in school history, according to 247sports.com.
Woods is listed as the second-best prospect in the state of Nebraska and the 12th-ranked offensive lineman in the nation. He was originally committed to Missouri and was sought after by the likes of Arizona State, Texas A&M, LSU, Michigan State, and many other Power-5 programs. Rivals.com listed offers from Nebraska, Miami, Florida, Penn State and others.
Woods was also a member of The World-Herald’s All-Nebraska team and the newspaper's "Super Six" squad.
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Woods becomes the fourth player in this class from the state of Nebraska, joining Caden Becker, Koa McIntyre and LJ Richardson.
A source indicated last night that landing Woods was about a "50/50 shot." I was also told he is good friends with Richardson and current Cowboy Caleb Robinson, who both hail from the Cornhusker State.
The Cowboys have also landed five-star long snapper Carson York to the '22 class, joining the 14 others who inked on early signing day back in December.
A year after the Cowboys lost Read Sunn to a season-ending injury in fall camp and patched together a duo of inexperienced snappers in Tommy Wroblewski and Teagan Liufau, Craig Bohl and Co. have landed their man.
York, who is from Prosper, Texas, earned that star ranking through Kohlskicking.com.
"York has developed himself into easily one of the most impressive all around snappers in the country," the camp's website reads. "He is consistent with his rotation, location and velocity even under pressure. Not only is he a lights-out snapper but he's also a tremendous athlete who will be an asset in coverage for any program in the nation. York competed at the Kohl’s Texas Showcase and finished with the best overall score and won the camp wide snapping competition with a .67 second snap.
"He is without a doubt a Power-5 talent and still hasn’t reached his peak."
In 2021, Wroblewski, a freshman linebacker from Saint Paul, Neb., was forced into duty as the Cowboys snapper on field goals and extra points. Liufau, a junior defensive end from Fort Collins, handled punts.
York, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, played a Rock Hill High School in Frisco, Texas, where he also served as the team's outside linebacker.
Wyoming is expected to introduce at least two preferred walk-on commits Wednesday in TJ Urban and Luke Sandy. The Cowboys already added one of those during the early signing period, snagging Charlie Coenen, a wide receiver from Minnesota.
Urban, a safety from Omaha, Neb., who spent last season on the prep team at the Air Force Academy, is already on campus.
Sandy announced on Twitter Sunday that he will also be signing with UW. The 6-foot-2, 281-pound Elizabeth, Colo., product was an All-State performer at defensive tackle at Legend High School last fall. He will transition to the offensive line in Laramie.
Four-star cornerback Jaelyn Davis-Robinson from Waxahachie, Texas, posted on Twitter Monday night that he has narrowed his selections down to Boston College, LSU, Oregon and Wyoming.
He announced Wednesday he is heading to Baton Rouge to play for Brian Kelly.
Here are the new Cowboys who were officially inked on early signing day:
* Caden Becker - QB - Omaha, Neb.
* Josh Dixon - CB - McKinney, Texas
* Jagger Filippone - OL - Torrey Pines, Calif.
* Cayden Hawkins - LB - Highlands Ranch, Colo.
* Mykel Janise - OL - Beaumont, Texas
* Rex Johnsen - OL - Logan, Iowa
* Wes King - OL - Appleton, Wisc.
* Koa McIntyre - S - Fremont, Nebr.
* Caleb Merritt - WR - St. Louis, Mo.
* LJ Richardson - RB - Bellevue, Neb.
* Isaac Schoenfeld - TE - Rock Springs, Wyo.
* Malique Singleton - S - Englewood, Colo.
* Kevin Sjogren - DE - Palisade, Neb.
* Jaden Williams - DT - Inglewood, Calif.
Bohl will meet with the media today at 3:30 p.m. MT to discuss the newest additions to the 2022 recruiting class.
After losing 10 players to the transfer portal after the bowl victory in Boise, Wyoming has also added six new transfers:
* Cole DeMarzo - LB - Michigan State
* Evan Svoboda - QB - Snow College
* Andrew Peasley - QB - Utah State
* Jakorey Hawkins - CB - Ole Miss
* Deron Harrell - CB - Wisconsin
* TJ Urban - S - Air Force (Urban is technically a walk on)