Wyoming’s Braylon Jenkins Slides Into Starting Role

LARAMIE -- Braylon Jenkins was warned at the team hotel. It became official in the pregame stretch line.

You're starting.

There was little time for the nerves set in. Playing 16 snaps at right tackle the week prior in a win over San Jose State helped, too.

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"I tend to overthink," the redshirt freshman said with a smile full of braces.

With Jake Davies nursing a foot injury, Jenkins appeared to slide in seamlessly. He graded out as the third-best offensive lineman at Air Force, earning a 72.1 from Pro Football Focus.

The stats say he was better on this day than seniors Jack Walsh and Caden Barnett. The only starter with a higher marking was left tackle Rex Johnsen. Luke Sandy, in a reserve role, landed second.

Jenkins was on the field for 67 plays: 34 passes, 33 runs. He was a tick better against the pass rush than run blocking.

"I did a solid job," the 6-foot-4, 314-pound Iowa product said. "Obviously, there's always room for improvement. I'm always looking to get better."

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What was his biggest takeaway?

It wasn't helping pave the way for a couple of long Terron Kellman touchdown runs or even the one-on-one battles he dominated.

Jenkins was flagged for holding early in the second quarter. He also allowed a quarterback pressure in that 24-21 road loss to the Falcons.

There was one other miscue on his mind.

With the Cowboys lined up at the Falcons' 3-yard line with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation and a chance to take the lead, Jenkins lost leverage, giving edge rusher Payton Zdroik a clear path to Kellman, who was stopped for no gain.

On the ensuing snap, tight end Evan Svoboda lined up in the wildcat formation, took the shotgun snap and promptly tossed a game-altering interception into the hands of Air Force safety Roger Jones Jr.

The Falcons followed that with an 8-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.

"Obviously, I take a lot of guilt with that," Jenkins said. "If I did that better, we could have been in a better position and would have scored on that play, probably. So, obviously, as a competitor, and someone who wants to be the best version of himself all the time, I take that to heart."

There's some good and bad, Jay Sawvel said last Monday when it comes to Jenkins. That's bound to happen when you are learning on the job, Wyoming's head coach added.

Sawvel said he has also seen plenty of promise. That landed Jenkins this promotion in the first place. It's also the reason, just hours after taking the reins of the program from Craig Bohl in December of 2023, Sawvel hoped on a plane.

Destination: Des Moines.

"He's very talented," he said, referring to the three-star recruit out of Valley High School. "He's very committed to being a good player. So, you know, the expectation is he should take off with that. That's not an easy position to play as a redshirt freshman, either, you know?"

Joe Tripodi agrees, wholeheartedly.

"I think Braylon has a bright future," Wyoming's offensive line coach said. "He has all the natural ability. I see that as an open competition."

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There has been plenty of movement within the Cowboys' front five this fall.

Nate Geiger, the opening-day starter at left tackle, was lost for the season with a knee injury in a Week-3 meeting with Colorado. Davies took over at that spot after starting the final 11 games of the 2024 campaign. Ahead of the UNLV game, Johnsen was moved to the left edge. Davies moved to the other tackle spot. Sandy has also filled in periodically for Sandy at left guard.

Jenkins again draws the task of protecting the right perimeter today with Border War rival Colorado State in town.

Sure, like his teammates, he wants to win this one for the state. Watching as CSU players rushed to hoist the Bronze Boot on Wyoming's sideline last November is also branded on his brain. Navigating his way to the visiting locker room inside Canvas Stadium through a throng of students stoked the flames, too.

Jenkins wants this one. The real reasoning is not that complicated.

"I have to play really well for the guys next to me," he added.

Do that, the rest will take care of itself.

Kickoff today between the Cowboys and Rams is slated for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.