Welcome to Wyoming Football: Taylor Hasselbeck

LARAMIE -- Wyoming, once again, has welcomed nearly 50 new faces to the roster this offseason.

Transfer portal era, am I right?

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Jay Sawvel again made a list of 10 "keepers" last December, heading into free agency. Running back Samuel "Tote" Harris was, no doubt, high on that list. So were defensive tackles Dante Drake and Jayden Williams. The Cowboys' third-year head coach also wanted to hang on to players like tight end Jake Wilson, wideout Deion DeBlanc, nickel corner Desman Hearns and offensive tackles Rex Johnsen and Braylon Jenkins, among others.

Mission accomplished. All are back for another round on the high plains.

The team did lose its top-four outside targets, including leading receiver Chris Durr Jr., who is now at Maryland. Two impact cornerbacks also hit the open market. Tyrese Boss is at Arizona. Markie Grant headed west to former conference rival Utah State.

Wyoming will also have a new quarterback under center, snagging William and Mary graduate transfer Tyler Hughes, who has one season of eligibility remaining. The hope is he'll right the ship at that spot, keeping the seat warm for Gillette's Mason Drube.

The Cowboys also reloaded in the offensive backfield and at the line of scrimmage, adding 1,000-yard rusher Markell Holman and interior linemen Chandler Donaway, Jason Maciejcak and Jeremiah Katt.

You'll read all about those guys, along with 20-plus freshmen, in this summer series: Welcome to Wyoming football.

NAME | Taylor Hasselbeck

YEAR | Freshman

HT/WT | 6' 2", 180

HOMETOWN | Nashville, Tenn.

POSITION | Quarterback

JERSEY NUMBER | N/A

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Ensworth High School

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Four

NOTABLE |  If the last name Hasselbeck sounds familiar, it should. Taylor Hasselbeck, a three-star recruit from the Nashville, is the son of former NFL signal caller Tim Hasselbeck, who was under center for eight seasons, playing for the same number of franchises. He is now an analyst on ESPN. You know, the one with the Wyoming helmet behind him during live shots. Taylor's uncle, Matt Hasselbeck, played 18 seasons in the league, earning three Pro Bowl nods and a place in the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Fame. That's not all. Taylor's mother, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, could be the most popular of all. She is a television personality and talk show host, known mostly for he time on The View. Now, to the man of the hour. Taylor Hasselbeck threw for 1,790 yards and 18 touchdowns last fall while leading his team to a berth in the TSSAA DII-AAA state semifinals. The three-star recruit completed 70.5% of his throws in the process and was picked off just three times. He also received offers from Eastern Michigan and Murray State. Auburn, along with Coastal Carolina, Duke, North Carolina State and others, kicked the tires.

QUOTABLE | "Taylor is a guy that that has been a very important piece for us, recruiting wise, because he did an excellent job recruiting other players in this class. That was No. 1. No. 2 is, when you have a quarterback commit and you make an offensive coordinator change during the season, there has to be a high level of trust, not only from the player, but also the family, that, as the head coach, that I'm going to get that part right. So they've been involved -- in the loop -- as far as everything that's going on, every step of the way. I really, really appreciate Taylor and what he does and what he will be as a Cowboy," -- Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel discussing the procurement of Tennessee prep QB Taylor Hasselbeck.

WELCOME TO WYOMING SUMMER SERIES:

* LB - Anthony Beavers Jr.

* S - Jett Vincent

* WR - Justin Popovich

* QB - Tyler Hughes

* CB - Junus McGraw

* RB - Markell Holman

* CB - Logan Mackey

* S - Travis Franklin Jr.

* WR - Jayden Williams

* LB - Karson Butts

* S - Da'Marion Brownlee

* CB - Kendall Griffin

* RB - Diore Hubbard

* DE - Jack Dunkley

* S - Therman 'Boogie' Williams

* LB - Mason Wright

* DT - Ja'Quan Redfern

* DT - Tanielu Maafala-Barbasa

* DE - Thaddeus Gianaris

* OG - Chandler Donaway

* C - Jason Maciejczak

* OL - Grant Lott

* OL - Jeremiah Katt

* TE - Tyler Siddons

* DE - Donnie Wingate

* LS - Nathan Curry 

* S - Nathanial Watson

* RB - Ryken Banks

* LB - Dante Bruley

* DT - MacGregor Byers

* OL - Pierce Decker

* TE - Colin Ford

* LB - Boston Gable

* OL - Jackson Garrett

* WR - Jarell Gary

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Brooklyn Cheek Eyeing Starting Gig in UW Secondary

* Drake's Love Affair With Football Rekindled Through Adversity

* Richardson Has Coming-Out Party in Pokes' Spring Game

* Cowboy Offense Finds End Zone Five Times in Spring Game Victory

* Pokes' Latest Downfield Threat May Have Been on Roster All Along

* Wyoming Teammates on Johnathan Bush: 'He's Our Psycho'

* Josh Allen to Tyler Hughes: Wyoming Football 'One Step Away'

* New UW President on Athletics: 'We Will Compete'

* Landon Sims: 'You Can't Get Rid of Me That Easy'

* Sawvel Believes This Could Be His Best Defense at Wyoming

* Lofty Expectations Ahead for Desman Hearns

* Wyoming's Staff Expecting Inside Dominance From Jayden Williams

* PJ Jackson Looks an Awful Lot Like a Former UW Receiver

* Are the Cowboys Really Flirting With Adding an Option Attack?

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