Pokes Position Breakdown: Tight Ends

LARAMIE -- Wyoming football season is right around the corner.

Jay Sawvel and his team will hit the practice fields in Laramie July 28, kicking off training camp just 31 days ahead of the Cowboys Thursday night opener at Akron.

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Nearly 50 new players -- both freshmen and portal signings -- litter this new-look roster as this program attempts to put a disappointing 3-9 season even further in the rear-view mirror. Hopefully you're learning about all the new faces in our summer series Welcome to Wyoming Football.

According to ESPN, UW returns 56% of its production (104 combined starts) from last season, including its leading rusher (Sam Scott), receiver (Jaylen Sargent) and tight end (John Michael Gyllenborg). Three offensive linemen -- Wes King, Jack Walsh and Caden Barnett -- are back in the fold, too. So is quarterback Kaden Anderson, who took the reins late in 2024.

Now, let's break down this team, position by position, ahead of Mountain West Media Days July 16-17 in Las Vegas:

PLAYERS | *John Michael Gyllenborg, Isaac Schoenfeld, Evan Svoboda, Jake Wilson, Tyler Hampton, Justin Erb, Landon Pace, Kyle Frendt  (* - Presumed starter)

POSITION COACH | Shannon Moore - 7th season

WHAT TO WATCH | Can John Michael Gyllenborg finally put together a fully healthy season during his last go 'round on the high plains? If so, how good can that guy be? Fun to ponder. Evan Svoboda was clearly not the answer under center for this program. Maybe his fortunes can change now that he is a full-time tight end. His coaches certainly think that can happen. Jake Wilson looks the part. The redshirt freshman stands 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 245. We've heard he could be the next in line to take over the starting gig. Justin Erb and Isaac Schoenfeld have shown promise in the running game. Can that success translate to down-field production this fall? Landon Pace, son of Hall of Famer and former No. 1 overall pick Orlando Pace, turned down a number of Power-4 schools before signing with the Cowpokes last December. Anyone else looking forward to seeing what he can do in Year 1 in Laramie? Head coach Jay Sawvel said numerous times last spring, this is the most-talented unit on this roster. How often will their numbers be called when the feathers start to fly?

SUMMARY | Gyllenborg dealt with injuries throughout 2024, including a nagging high-ankle sprain that cost the senior the season and home opener. He was also sidelined against Border War rival Colorado State with a shoulder/ collarbone issue. Still, the Kansas native hauled in 30 passes, the second most on the team. He turned that production into 425 receiving yards. Only wideout Jaylen Sargent (480) had more. When healthy, this staff says Gyllenborg can be one of the best tight ends in not only the Mountain West, but the nation. We've seen glimpses, including a 137-yard performance last October at San Jose State. Standing 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at 250, Gyllenborg's services were reportedly sought by a number of major programs this offseason. The dollar amounts flying around the rumor mill reached six figures. He instead stayed true to his commitment and will close out his career in Laramie. With a little help from his friends -- mainly Svoboda, Schoenfeld and Wilson -- no one on this offense should see more targets this fall than Gyllenborg. Consistency at the quarterback spot and across the offensive line, not to mention a number of returning deep threats like Chris Durr Jr. and Sargent, should help, too.

QUOTABLE | "I say this to my guys all the time, and I say to recruits all the time, we're going to come every day and we're going to compete and we're going to find out who is going to just push everybody to be the best. Everybody's got to push everyone and you got to enjoy seeing your teammates in our room succeed ... We have to raise our expectations -- everybody's expectations -- and if you don't push everybody, then we're not going to reach our full potential. Those guys do that. But then, once they leave here, we bring them over to our house and you see them interact, we go bowling, they are great friends away from here. But, yes, everybody is competing for the starting job, the No. 2 job, things like that ... JMike was the first one that said it, he goes, 'I hope somebody in here takes my job, because that means we are really, really good.' So, that's just the kind of leadership that he has. But that's how those guys are," UW tight ends coach Shannon Moore said last April after a spring practice.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players