Welcome to Wyoming Football: Thaddeus Gianaris

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 | Thaddeus Gianaris

YEAR | Senior

HT/WT | 6',2", 244

HOMETOWN | Park Ridge, Ill.

POSITION | Defensive end

JERSEY NUMBER | 51

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Dartmouth

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | One

NOTABLE | Thaddeus Gianaris appeared in all 10 games during his final season at Dartmouth, racking up 55 tackles, nine of which were for loss. He also tacked on a five sacks and hit the opposing quarterback eight times. He was credited with 35 pressures off the edge. Those stats earned him First Team All-Ivy League honors. Gianaris capped the year with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 89.4, ranking him fifth among all outside defenders in the FCS.

QUOTABLE | "Thaddeus is a unique guy. First of all, he's an astronomy major at Dartmouth and an Ivy League grad. So when you say smart guy, yes, he's uber-smart. Thaddeus has a tremendous motor and works extremely hard. We're going to be really happy that Thaddeus is in the program this year. I think there's a lot of traits that Larry Wilson had a year ago, playing for us at defensive end. Thaddeus has many of those same traits, but he's probably a better overall athlete, so that translates really well. And, look, Thaddeus was a good player in the Ivy League, you know? I mean, when you watch these transfer type things and stuff like that, like, Ivy League football is pretty good," -- UW head coach Jay Sawvel on his newest edge rusher.

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