LARAMIE -- Wyoming has welcomed nearly 50 new faces this offseason.

Transfer portal era, am I right?

Jay Sawvel knew a rebuild on defense was in order after losing both starting linebackers and safeties, along with leaders like Jordan Bertagnole and DeVonne Harris. The departures of Wrook BrownSabastian Harsh and Keany Parks only magnified things.

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The second-year head coach got busy, inking a dozen transfers on that side of the ball on February's traditional signing day and adding three more since the annual spring game.

On offense, the damage was limited.

Yes, running back Harrison Waylee is now at Virginia. Young wideout Justin Stevenson is a Utah Ute now, too. But if you ask Sawvel, he kept the players he wanted on offense, beginning with quarterback Kaden Anderson.

Three of the Cowboys' top linemen -- Jack WalshCaden Barnett and Wes King -- are also back. So is tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, wide receivers Chris Durr Jr. and Jaylen Sargent, along with leading rusher Sam Scott.

So, without further ado, let's spent the summer meeting the new players that litter this 2025 roster:

 

NAME | Brooklyn Cheek

YEAR | Redshirt Freshman

HT/WT | 6',1", 199

HOMETOWN | Oakdale, Calif.

POSITION | Safety

JERSEY NUMBER | 25

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Cal

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Four

NOTABLE | Out of high school, Cheek was ranked the No. 39 safety in the country, according to 247sports.com. He tallied 152 tackles, two tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 23 pass breakups and one fumble recovery during his senior campaign. Cheek also lined up at wide receiver. He redshirted during his lone seasons in Berkeley.

QUOTABLE | "I like Brooklyn Cheek. He is a very good athlete. He had a couple really good physical plays on Saturday that were very, very encouraging. I think that he continues to progress the way he does, I mean, we are going to have to start to maneuver him around. You know, he's in the mix of serious playing time. I like where he's at. He's very athletic. He had a really good finish to the winter offseason. Like, the last three-plus weeks, we kept seeing things. It was like, man, look at Brooklyn Cheek. He got bigger, he got stronger and speeds were coming real well. He's a plus athlete. You see why he's signed at a PAC-12 school. He's also got four years of eligibility left. He's got family that's buying a house in Laramie. He's here. I mean, and he loves it here. This place fits him far better than the place that he was at. All you have to do is ask him that. I'm excited about him." -- Jay Sawvel on the redshirt freshman safety

 

WELCOME TO WYOMING FOOTBALL SERIES:

Esaia Bogar

Eric Richardson

Jason Handy

Brayden Wilson

Deion DeBlanc

 

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

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Tuck's Take: Wyoming won today's Brown and Gold Spring Game

Who is No. 44?: 'He's a kid that's going to show up'

Wyoming loses starting cornerback to transfer portal

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Wyoming's rookie corner is turning heads this spring

Double or nothing: Pokes' makeshift front five falters late

Wyoming looking to add to roster with spring portal looming

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert GagliardiJared NewlandRyan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

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