Who Will Be Wyoming’s Featured Running Back This Fall?

LARAMIE -- "You need a pair to spare."

Donnell Kirkwood Jr. uttered those words in early February, referring to the Wyoming running back room he inherited this offseason.

"There is no such thing as one bell-cow running back getting 30 (carries)," he continued. "It aint happening like that anymore, especially if you want somebody to play the rest of the season."

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His ultimate goal is to rotate two or even three in the backfield. Kirkwood thinks that will only elevate the competition. Comradery, he added, should also grow as a result.

While those plans remain intact, the roster hasn't.

Harrison Waylee, the first player Kirkwood mentioned as he was praising the talent of this unit, announced last week he will be entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, opting to close his collegiate career elsewhere.

Wyoming also lost the oft-injured Dawaiian McNeely to the open market. Jamari Ferrell also hit the dusty trail and is in search of a soft landing spot after being granted an additional year of eligibility thanks to the landmark "JUCO ruling."

DJ Jones, a transfer from the University of North Carolina, stepped away from the team for personal reasons after the completion of the non-conference slate. He never returned to the lineup -- or Laramie.

So, who exactly will be the Cowboys' featured back this fall?

Sam Scott is certainly an early candidate.

Wyoming's leading rusher in 2024, the Nebraska native bulldozed his way to a 435-yard season. He also found the end zone four times -- three on the ground -- including a 41-yard pitch and catch in a lopsided loss at North Texas.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior proved last fall he could pick up yards between the tackles and find another gear on the edge. He can punish at the point of attack, too. Just ask Utah State's defense, which surrendered a season-high 115 yards to Scott on just 11 attempts. That's an eye-popping average of 10.5 yards per tote.

Scott, since making the move from linebacker to running back just weeks before the 2022 Arizona Bowl, has rushed for 683 yards on 144 carries.

Terron Kellman has also turned heads during winter workouts.

Jay Sawvel boasted in early March that the junior is already tipping the scales at 209, 12 pounds heavier than he ever did at his former school, Charlotte. Wyoming's head coach made sure to point out the Maryland native during last week's open workouts, pointing to his size and burst.

Kellman is coming off a season in which he was relegated to third-string duties, rolling up just 242 yards on 48 attempts. Hahsaun Wilson and Cartevious Norton combined for 1,084 yards and 14 touchdowns. They did that damage in 220 tries.

Originally a Northern Illinois commit, one that was ironically hosted in DeKalb by Waylee, the 5-foot-8 Kellman should get plenty of opportunities this spring to prove why he was a three-star prospect who once held offers from Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Boston College and Kansas.

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Nico Hamilton and Dontae Burch are relative unknowns in the room. Both redshirted during their first season in Laramie.

They will soon be joined by a trio of rookies, beginning with Patrick Broadway II, a 2,000-yard rusher from the Greater Houston Area, who was inked in February on the NCAA's traditional signing day.

Samuel "Tote" Harris and Jaden Lawrence will also arrive in the summer. The latter rushed for 2,801 career yards and 37 scores during his prep career at Legend High School in Colorado. Harris, a Cibolo, Texas product, averaged 9.3 yards per carry last season.

Sawvel has also made it clear he will sign another running back during the spring transfer window, which is open from April 16-25.

Broadway, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs in at 200 pounds, was a "victim of 2025 recruiting," according to Sawvel, referring to schools bypassing high school talent for quick fixes in the transfer portal.

The head coach said plenty of marquee names kicked the tires on Broadway, but Wyoming, along with the likes of Prairie View A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Concordia-St. Paul, were the only programs to extend a serious offer.

Kirkwood was hired just as Broadway's signature was drying on the page.

He said some coaches don't like the idea of bringing in prep running backs. He isn't one of those. Kirkwood sees the immense talent on film. Broadway racked up nearly 4,000 career rushing yards and scored 42 touchdowns during his time at Fulshear High School.

He was named the District 20-6A Offensive MVP and took home First Team honors for the second consecutive season. Broadway was also a finalist for the Texas 6A Running Back of the Year.

"I love to go find a kid that's 5-foot-10, 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, coming out of high school," Kirkwood added. "He is physical as all get out, and that's what we're looking for. We're looking for physical, we're looking for good feet and a way to use his tools. He's that guy.

"He comes from a really good family and is supported, so it was awesome to find him and kind of maneuver."

Spring football in Laramie is scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 25. The annual Brown and Gold Spring game will take place Saturday, April 26 inside War Memorial Stadium.

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