Portal Tracker: Let’s Check in on Former Wyoming Football Players

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel said he looks at his roster in tiers.

At the top sits the "irreplaceable," those the rookie head coach added, Wyoming can't afford to lose to the transfer portal. Below that, solid players he hopes to keep around. The developmental guys come next. They're young, promising.

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This program has lost all of the above to free agency. Some years are better than others.

You may be worried the Cowboys are in big trouble this offseason. Two wins through nine weeks does little to calm those fears.

Sawvel isn't.

"I think we have a really good culture here," he said. "This is the thing, we have a good football program here that is having a tough season, OK? And a tough season was due to inconsistency at certain positions, at times, and inexperience at certain positions. You know, injuries are something that every team deals with every year. What you don't want is injuries to the wrong people, and we've had that this year."

The names below are players who have left the program and are still competing at other schools. Some are "top-tier," others, not so much. The 2021 season ended with a mass rush to the portal. Last winter, Wyoming lost one starter, defensive tackle Gavin Meyer.

"I think that, by and large, a lot of our players realize within the program that there's a lot of good in terms of how their day-to-day coached, in terms of how their day-to-day treated. That grass isn't always greener if you try to go somewhere else or look somewhere else. So, I think that we'll be in a good spot."

Gavin Meyer - Defensive tackle - USC

This defensive tackle shocked everyone when he entered the transfer portal after spring camp. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle landed at USC where he has tallied 18 tackles, a sack and batted down a pass. The Wisconsin product's best outing came against Rutgers where he wrapped up four tackles and a sack in a 22-point victory. Meyer played four seasons at Wyoming. He capped his career in Laramie with 68 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Emmanuel Pregnon - Offensive Line - USC 

This former Freshman All-American started 12 games at left guard for the Trojans last fall during his first season at USC. That's where the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Denver product remains today.

Kolbey Taylor - Cornerback - Vanderbilt

Once again a visitor to The Athletic's preseason "Freaks List" Taylor has 15 tackles, a dozen of which are solos, in his first season at Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-3 senior from Texas registered 29 stops last fall in Laramie, including seven pass breakups.

Chuck Hicks - Linebacker - Missouri

This San Diego native has 26 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup from his linebacker spot this season. Hicks played at Wyoming in 2019 and '20. He entered the transfer portal after Easton Gibbs claimed the starting job out of fall camp in 2021. During his time in Laramie, the outside linebacker registered 31 tackles, two sacks and a pick. The latter came during the COVID-19 shortened campaign in the home opener against Hawaii.

Brady Hultman - Linebacker - Missouri

Appeared in eight games after redshirting last season in Laramie. Has yet to tally a stat.

Joshua Cobbs (Hardeman) - Wide receiver - South Florida

This 6-foot-4, 212-pound receiver from San Antonio appeared in 28 games at Wyoming, hauling in 35 catches for 407 yards and two touchdowns. Cobbs, now Hardeman, transferred to Houston after the '22 campaign. During his lone year in the Bayou City, he caught eight balls for 71 yards. Now in his first season at South Florida, Hardeman has 128 yards receiving on eight receptions. He also snagged a touchdown in a win over Southern Miss.

Keonte Glinton - Cornerback - New Mexico State

The Bakersfield, Calif., native has 15 tackles and a pair of pass breakups during his senior season in Las Cruces. Glinton played three seasons at Wyoming, serving as the program's nickelback. He tallied 49 stops, broke up eight passes and picked off a pass in the 2021 Border War against Colorado State.

Isaiah Neyor - Wide receiver - Nebraska

This Fort Worth product has resurrected his career in Lincoln after spending two seasons at the University of Texas. He tore his ACL during the 2022 campaign and caught just one pass during his last year in Austin. Neyor, who transferred to Nebraska last winter, now has 408 receiving yards on 25 catches. He also has five touchdown grabs, including a pair against Illinois. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wideout was a top target during his two years in Laramie. He capped his career in the brown and gold with 52 catches, 1,126 yards and 13 touchdowns.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

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* Breaking down why Sawvel and Co. waited to make move at QB

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* Gear up for game day: New Mexico Lobos

* Wyoming's Kaden Anderson on late father: 'He'd be very proud'

Oluwaseyi Omotosho - Outside linebacker - Oregon State

This 6-foot-2 edge rusher from Houston has appeared in six games this fall. He's registered 10 tackles and picked up his first sack in a home loss to UNLV. Omotosho spent three seasons in Laramie, finally seeing the field with regularity in 2022. He got to the quarterback 6.5 times that season, including three against visiting Northern Colorado. He finished with 46 tackles. Omotosho entered the transfer portal at season's end.

Cam Stone - Cornerback - Hawaii

Statistically, Sam Stone is one of the top pass defenders in the country this season. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Texas product has one interception to go along with six pass breakups. He also has 28 tackles and a forced fumble out of Hawaii's secondary. Stone appeared in 28 games during his time at Wyoming. He capped his run in Laramie with 45 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions in three seasons. He also had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a '21 meeting with Utah State. He was named honorable mention All-Mountain West during his final season at Wyoming.

Malik Williams - Offensive tackle - San Jose State

This 6-foot-4, 302-pound tackle from Hayward, Calif., has been a full-time starter in San Jose over the last two-plus seasons. He appeared in just one game for the Cowboys. That came against Montana State back in 2021

Jaylen Pate - Defensive end - Northwestern

This Chicago product has 16 tackles and a pass breakup through nine games this fall. Pate, who graduated from Wyoming in 2021, has played three seasons at Northwestern. During his two years on the field in Laramie, Pate tallied 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Others: Cornerback Chauncey Carter (Midwestern State), Safety Garrett McGriff (Minot State), Defensive end Keelan Cox (Texas Southern), Offensive lineman Kuba Tyszka (North Dakota), Quarterback Carson May (Abilene Christian), Running back Jordon Vaughn (Abilene Christian), Quarterback Hank Gibbs (Northern Colorado)

* Source: 247sports.com

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players