Svoboda Tasked With ‘Overall Command’ of Pokes’ Offense

LARAMIE -- "This is your show."

Those are Evan Svoboda's marching orders. They came directly from Jay Sawvel, just days after he was named Craig Bohl's successor.

"He is the starting quarterback," Sawvel said in mid-December.

That is still the case.

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The rookie head coach said as much Friday during a near 30-minute press conference as his Wyoming team prepares for spring camp, which will begin Tuesday in Laramie. Svoboda, a 6-foot-5, rumor-has-it 250-plus pound junior, is in the driver's seat, but Sawvel warned yet again, "nobody's immune to competition."

"Evan still has to go out and do his part in spring practice," he added.

Svoboda appeared in nine games last fall, spelling Andrew Peasley in certain game situations and filling in when the senior suffered an AC sprain in his throwing shoulder a week before the Cowboys traveled to No. 3 Texas. During that start, the only one in his brief career, Svoboda connected on 17-of-28 throws for 136 yards. Calm and composed, he steadied the ship, taking a 10-10 tied into the fourth quarter.

The Longhorns scored two quick touchdowns before Jerrin Thompson jumped an out route and returned a Svoboda interception 27 yards for a touchdown to cap a 31-10 victory.

Svoboda attempted just 10 more passes on the season, but played a major role in Wyoming's Arizona Bowl win over Toledo.

With Peasley sidelined with an injury, The Mesa product led an 8-play, 73-yard drive that culminated with a touchdown when he plunged into the end zone from a yard out, cutting the Rocket's lead to just two with 8:37 remaining in regulation.

After firing a 26-yard strike to Ayir Asante on the first play of the Cowboys' final possession, Peasley once again was removed from the lineup. Svoboda stepped in and drove his team 60 yards on 10 snaps, setting up a game-winning 24-yard field goal off the right foot of John Hoyland.

"I'm super excited for Evan," Asante said last Tuesday, speaking at Wyoming's annual NFL Pro Day. "You know, he gets a fresh start, new offensive coordinator, new head coach. Now, he has the reins. Obviously, everyone got a little taste of him at Texas and a little bit in the bowl game, but now it's his show. I know practices were closed (to the public, media), but some of the stuff that Evan does in practice would surprise you guys."

Former Wyoming wideout Wyatt Wieland's eyebrows raised.

"He's a gamer," he said of Svoboda, adding the legend of his arm strength is real. "The guy can sling it. He's going to be the real deal."

That may be, but Sawvel said he has work to do.

What will he be paying attention to this spring?

How does Svoboda handle situational football? Can he run two-minute drills, convert third downs, manage red-zone opportunities, both heading inside the opponents' 20-yard line and coming out of the shadows of their own goal posts?

That's not all.

"We have to put him in as many positions and situations as possible within scrimmages, within practices, things of that nature," Sawvel said. "You just want to come out of the spring with him having a great overall command of what we're doing and the accuracy and understanding of where that ball needs to go and when it needs to go and the timing he needs to do it with."

Sawvel, who has served as Wyoming's defensive coordinator and safeties coach over the last four seasons, said he has been sitting in on quarterback meetings this summer. What has he learned? Svoboda has the cerebral tools, too. Sawvel raved about the engagement and understanding of the offensive scheme, led by new coordinator Jay Johnson.

All eyes are on Svoboda during these upcoming 15 practices. Sawvel has a front-row seat.

"I talked to him this morning, I was like, 'You ready to go next week? He's like, 'I can't wait,'" Sawvel said with a smile. "So, I'm a little worried that maybe the first few passes he throws will be like 105-mile-per-hour fast balls. He's ready to go."