Wyoming Football Recruits Have Impressive 2026 Debuts

LARAMIE -- The "best quarterback in Illinois" played like it in his 2026 debut.

Wyoming commit Michael Vander Luitgaren had a career night in Batavia High School's season opener, completing 28-of-35 throws for 439 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-35 victory over Maine South.

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Five of those hookups, which amounted to 67 receiving yards and a score, were in the direction of tight end Thomas Prescott. He also plans to call Laramie home after the season.

The man responsible for that confident declaration above, BHS head coach Dennis Piron, is admittedly biased. But the numbers speak for themselves.

"There are a lot of good QBs this year, but he is severely underrated," Piron told Michael O'Brien of the Chicago Sun Times. "We also have dudes that can go get it and catch the ball."

Vander Luitgaren, a three-star prospect, committed to the Cowboys in mid-May, turning down official offers from 10 other programs, including new Mountain West foes North Dakota State. A number of MAC and Ivy League schools also courted the 6-foot-1, 200-pound signal caller, who last fall threw for more than 2,700 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Despite those numbers, Vander Luitgaren is rated the sixth-best quarterback in the state, according to recruiting website 247sports.com, falling below names like Israel Abrams (Miami, Fla.), Jake Nawrot (Kentucky), Jameson Purcell (Indiana), Jackie Ryder (Purdue) and Ben Peterson (Eastern Michigan).

Purcell was under center Friday for Maine South. He connected on 20-of-40 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. He also tossed two interceptions.

Vander Luitgaren threw one.

“I’m coming into the season with a big chip on my shoulder,” Vander Luitgaren told O'Brien. “Not trying to diss on the other guys -- they are amazing players -- but I got disrespected a little bit. Today I showed why I should be considered a top quarterback in the state.”

When it comes to tight ends, Prescott, who stands 6-foot-4 and tips the scales at 225, has zero stars behind his name despite snagging 19 balls for 373 yards last fall while averaging a team-best 19.6 yards per catch. He also added five touchdowns. He has fielded 14 offers, four of which have come from Mountain West programs: Air Force, New Mexico, Northern Illinois and Wyoming.

Jay Sawvel and Co. currently have 16 verbal commits to the 2027 class. The third-year head coach said last week that "eight" of those soon-to-be freshmen have expressed their desire to graduate early and join the Cowboys for spring football.

Vander Luitgaren is one of two QB's in Wyoming future class, joining Arvada, Colo., product Tucker Ingersoll. That duo could join a room next season that consists of Mason Drube, Landon Sims, Tyler Franklin and Taylor Hasselbeck.

The early national signing period will open Dec. 4 while the traditional signing day is set for Feb. 5.

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