Wyoming’s Tegen Seeds Creeping Up Depth Chart at Defensive Tackle

LARAMIE -- His hands just wouldn't stop shaking.

Elevated anxiety led to that restless trembling. The fear of failure admittedly crept in, leading to an indescribable tension and stress.

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Nerves, yeah, those were beyond frayed.

Tegen Seeds told himself, don't blow this opportunity. His ultimate goal was in his sights. He had the element of surprise, too.

"I couldn't even really talk," he said, describing the moment he took down his first mule deer just 25 miles north of his hometown of Douglas. "It was crazy."

How did that compare to Wyoming's second game of the season, when the redshirt freshman was ushered onto the field late in the fourth quarter for the first time in his college football career?

"My heart was racing, man," the defensive tackle said. "It was an awesome experience. It was unbelievable."

When you compare the two situations, Seeds said the latter was more daunting. He didn't miss that buck, but he did get flagged for jumping offside in that 31-7 win over Northern Iowa.

"After I got that out of the way, it just kind of felt like a regular game," he added with a laugh.

Seeds was a walk-on in the 2024 class, signed after being named the 3A East Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior at Douglas High School. Wyoming's staff took a flyer on the First Team All-State selection.

Maybe one day he could eventually become a depth player on the front five?

That was the initial thought -- until he hit the practice field.

"That's a guy that's tried his best to just maximize who he is as a player," said defensive tackles coach Deonte Gibson, who welcomed Seeds into his room last March ahead of spring practice. "I think it's really hard to beat out a guy that plays with that type of motor and that intensity and love for the school.

"Even if you're talented, I think a guy, down the line, like him, once he gets a little older, it'll be really hard to not play him."

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That time could come as early as Saturday when the Cowboys host Border War rival Colorado State.

Caleb Robinson and Dante Drake were lost for the season after both suffered a torn Achilles in fall camp. During last Saturday's loss at Air Force, Cody Crawford went down. So did Aneesh Vyas. Alex Haswell is still making his way back from a knee injury, too,

Seeds is currently listed as a backup heading into this meeting with the Rams.

Jay Sawvel was blunt after Seeds' first outing, "If he had to go in and play, I wouldn't be scared of that."

"I love Tegen Seeds," Sawvel said on that September day, adding Crawford, a Casper product, is also a favorite. "Those two guys, man, they play hard. They work hard. You know, they're Wyoming guys. They love this place. Their teammates love them. I love the fact that those two guys got in and played and did that. But, look, that's not gonna be the last time those guys play."

What is it like facing Seeds in practice?

The expression on Braylon Jenkins' face said it all.

"He has a lot of energy. He's a big motor guy," said the fellow redshirt freshman, who plays both offensive guard and tackle. "He'll just go and go. I mean, he'll just always try and run through your face, which it's good to have a guy like that."

During the team's off week, Seeds posted a photo to his social media account. Not surprisingly, it was him and his father, Jack Seeds, posing next to a downed antelope in the brush.

Seeds called the outdoors his "happy place."

Don't let the lack of smiles in the photo fool you. It's all business.

White tails, elk, turkeys and coyotes have also been on the receiving end of a Seeds' family outing.

"He is the truest Wyoming person ever," Gibson said with a smile. "But, from a personality perspective, I'm just grateful he's in my room."

Camouflage is Seeds' go-to, but nothing, he added, will compare to slipping that Wyoming jersey over his head. His next hunting goal is to take down a moose in Alaska.

As far as football, he hopes to eventually crack the rotation -- and earn a coveted scholarship.

He's taking it all just one day at a time.

"As a home-state kid, it's always been a goal to play for the Wyoming Cowboys," he said. "I just take it as an opportunity. I enjoy every day I get to do it ... I get to just show people that Wyoming kids can come play for the Wyoming football team.

"I'm blessed to do it."

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