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 | Desman Hearns

YEAR | Junior

HT/WT | 6' 0", 194

HOMETOWN | Clearwater, Fla.

POSITION | Safety

JERSEY NUMBER | 12

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Southern Illinois

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Two

NOTABLE | Desman Hearns racked up 85 tackles in 24 games at Southern Illinois. He also picked off three passes and recovered two fumbles during that two-year stretch. During the 2023 campaign, the Florida native earned FCS All-American Honorable Mention honors from Phil Steele. He recorded 36 tackles and scooped up a pair of loose balls while appearing in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman. He also received interest from Southern Miss out of Chamberlain High School.

QUOTABLE | "I would say I'm a very versatile player. I can play the free, I can play the run, I can play nickel. I can play all around. I say I'm pretty versatile," -- Desman Hearns on what position he'll play this fall

 

WELCOME TO WYOMING FOOTBALL SERIES:

Esaia Bogar

Eric Richardson

Jason Handy

Brayden Wilson

Deion DeBlanc

Charlie Houston

Brooklyn Cheek

Jackson Holman

Patrick Broadway II

Jaden DaCosta

Terron Kellman

Gabriel Ikechukwu

BJ Inmon

* Landon Sims

Cade Brook

Justin Taylor

Josiah Petaia

* Elvin Ampofo

Aneesh Vyas

Michael Fitzgerald

Johnathan Bush

Ethan Stuhlsatz

Damashja Harris

* Tyson Deen

 

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

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'He's going to be special': Bricen Brantley turning heads

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Former North Texas running back Damashja Harris inks with Pokes

Cowboys land edge rusher from FAU in portal

Cowboys go back to the well to sign latest defensive end

Wyoming receives commitment from 6'6" senior wideout

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

Wyoming's Dante Drake has been a menace in the trenches

Cowboys plan to add another QB after Batiste departure

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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