Pokes Snag Freshman Safety From Cal Out of Portal

LARAMIE -- You can never have enough safeties, right?

In an attempt to restock the cupboard, and replace two senior starters on the last line of defense, Jay Sawvel and Co. last Tuesday inked their fourth player on the backend, Brooklyn Cheek.

The Cal transfer today formally announced his decision on social media.

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The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Oakdale, Calif., product did not see the field during his lone season in Berkeley and will have four years of eligibility.

Cheek joins Desman Hearns (Southern Illinois), Jaden DeCosta (Portland State) and Justin Taylor (Wisconsin). Cornerback BJ Inmon was also announced Dec. 4 on early signing day.

The former three-star prospect was ranked the nation's No. 39 safety out of Central Catholic High School, according to 247sports.com. He was also the 48th-best player in the state, per the recruiting website.

Cheek appeared in 33 games, tallying 152 tackles (71 as a senior) and picking off nine passes. He also added 23 pass breakups and recovered a fumble while leading his team to Valley Oak titles in three straight seasons. Central Catholic appeared in the 2-AA state championship game in 2021.

A two-way standout, Cheek also hauled in 78 career receptions for 1,479 yards and 18 touchdowns.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Wyoming WR Justin Stevenson entering transfer portal

* Cowboys sign Oklahoma Baptist linebacker Brayden Johnson

* Wyoming's secondary Wednesday lands another transfer

* Wyoming inks former Wisconsin safety Justin Taylor

* Wyoming Cowboys in the NFL: Week 15

* Pokes Land 6'5" Linebacker from Lindenwood

* Wyoming football Monday inks three transfers

* Dawaiian McNeely entering portal after five years in Laramie

* Cowboys lose another edge rusher to transfer portal

* Cornerback becomes seventh Cowboy to hit open market

* Wyoming LB Cole DeMarzo retiring from football

* Wyoming announces 2025 football matchups

* Wyoming Football: 2025 Transfer Portal Tracker

* Edge Rusher Braden Siders Looking Elsewhere to Cap Career

* What's on deck for Sawvel, Wyoming's football staff?

Cheek was initially offered by Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, Cal and Washington State. Wyoming's Mountain West foes, Utah State and UNLV, were also in the mix.

The Cowboys have now added nine players through the portal this offseason, eight on the defensive side of the ball. Joining Cheek are linebackers Brayden Johnson (Oklahoma Baptist), Ethan Stuhlsatz (Lindenwood) and edge rusher Brayden Wilson (Weber State), along with Hearns, DeCosta, Taylor and Inmon.

Northwest Missouri State wideout Eric Richardson is the lone offensive addition.

Thirteen players have left the program since Dec. 9, the beginning of college football's version of free agency, three of which are safeties: Koa McIntyre, Nikos Varelas and Miles Tucker.

Starters Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White exhausted their eligibility in 2024.

Defensive tackle Jaden Williams, edge rushers Ethan Day and Braden Siders, linebacker Read Sunn and cornerback Naz Hill are also on the market. So is running back Dawaiian McNeely, along with wide receivers Tyler "TK" King, Justin Stevenson and Kaden LaFramboise.

Senior linebacker Cole DeMarzo announced earlier in the month he was retiring from football.

The winter portal window is open until Dec. 28. It briefly opens again in the spring from April 16-30.

Spring practice is set to begin in Laramie March 25.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players