Pokes Practice Report: Position Battles Linger Into September

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel has a great problem on his hands.

While he has a good majority of his two-deep roster all but penciled in, some players at multiple positions are making the decision awfully tough on this coaching staff.

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"I think there'll be some battles that go all the way until kickoff," Wyoming's third-year head coach said on Friday. "You know, I think that corner is one of them. I'm not going to anoint anybody on Sunday or Monday or anything like that."

Sawvel has said all offseason this could potentially be the best defense he's fielded in Laramie since arriving as that unit's coordinator in the winter of 2020. That's quite the statement, considering the Cowboys finished in the Top 50 just a year ago, including No. 2 in the nation, behind only Ohio State, inside their own 20-yard line.

The national publications will tell you only two starters are returning: nickelback Desman Hearns and safety Jones Thomas.

Those prognosticators obviously didn't take into account of the rotation implemented by Aaron Bohl.

For instance, defensive tackle Jayden Williams was on the field last fall for 366 snaps. Linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz registered 268. Edge rusher Esaia Bogar had his hand in the dirt for 200. Even reserves like safety Brooklyn Cheek, linebacker Gary Rutherford and defensive back Ian Bell, all potential starters in 2026, were north of 60.

"I feel really good about this defense," said Williams, who tallied 24 tackles in the trenches last season. "I absolutely feel like this could be the best defense and I think everyone else in the room is feeling it."

Then came the caveat.

"To be real, the corner room, that's like the only thing," the 294-pound junior added.

While there is an abundance of talent at the position, most of it is unproven, especially at the FBS level. Tyrese Boss and Markie Grant both left via free agency. Dainsus Miller exhausted his eligibility.

Who's left?

Aside from Bell, that room accounted for 32 defensive snaps in 2025, 28 of which belong to Tyson Shamsid-Deen.

Sawvel has said freshmen Kendall Griffin and Therman "Boogie" Williams are in the mix. So is Logan Mackey, who did appear in 25 games during a three-year stint at Weber State. David Leonard, owner of the other four defensive plays last fall, is also battling. Bell is, too.

"I think a good thing about it is, you're not letting anybody relax and think that they've (won it)," Sawvel added. "Nobody has earned anything. Nobody's really done anything in a game, so who we may go into Week 1 with could change going into Week 2 or 3. But I think what it's done is, everybody has to perform daily."

Wide receiver and safety are two other positions that are not yet settled.

Wyoming and Colorado State will meet Sept. 5 inside Canvas Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be televised on USA Network.

EXTRA POINTS:

* Does entering Year 3 feel different for Sawvel? A rookie head coach with no experience at that position struggled to win three games in 2024. The win total went up by just one last fall. "It feels way different because we've got a way better football team," he said, bluntly. "You know, when I see some of the pieces that we've got on this football team compared to what we have had the last two years, yeah, it feels a lot different compared to that. I think that's evident, all the way across the board. There's an experience factor that comes with year after year being a head coach and doing that part of it, but the reality to it is, if I had (quarterback) Tyler Hughes and (running back) Sam Harris and (tight end) Jake Wilson and guys like that two years ago, as a head coach, I'd feel a whole lot better about then, too."

* If you haven't read the feature "Playing for 73: Caleb Hall is Carrying on His Father's Legacy," do yourself a favor. It's special when players share the most intimate details of their lives. Check that out right HERE.

* Sawvel doesn't sound particularly concerned with the fact he has to prepare his team to face either Hauss Hejny or K'saan Farrar in the opener. CSU has yet to name its starter and Jim Mora said he won't until "4:05 p.m. on Sept. 5." You can read that one HERE.

* Offensive coordinator Christian Taylor and Hughes, who were together for the 2022 and '23 seasons at William and Mary, used to battle for the "Capital Cup" each year against the University of Richmond. How does that rivalry, one referred to as the "Oldest in the South," so far compare to the upcoming fist fight for the coveted Bronze Boot? "It's very different, for sure," the graduate transfer QB said. "At William and Mary, you don't like the Spiders. It's times 10 here. It's a rivalry and it's something that you take very seriously and something that you take personal." Taylor, who spent time on the staff with the Buffalo Bills the last two years, said he learned about the Border War through his earliest conversations with Sawvel. Then, some guy in a No. 17 jersey hammered home the point to him during his stint in Western New York. "I'd check with Josh (Allen) about how Wyoming was doing, and realized that this game meant a lot," he said with a smile.

* Yes, Sawvel and Taylor have discussed how much running they want Hughes to do this fall. No, they aren't sharing that number. The 6-foot, 214-pound signal caller finished 2025 with 155 rushing attempts. He rolled up 670 yards and found the end zone 11 times.

* Though Sawvel is technically the kicking coach, it's in name only. That's one of the reasons he reached out to professionals this offseason, in search of some much-needed advice. Erik Sandvik struggled throughout his first season as the kicker at UW, connecting on just 6-of-11 attempts. He also missed both from 50-plus yards. Sawvel said he learned to take it easy on his placekicker -- and punters -- limiting reps as the fall goes on. "We've looked at what's kind of the optimal amount of certain things that we need to do, and it's pared back quite a bit from where we were a year ago," he said. He also added he is happy with both Sandvik and Bart Edmiston.

* The NCAA Friday announced some changes that could be coming down the pike, one of which being 21 days of spring ball and the opportunity to run a pair of "OTA's" like in the NFL. Sawvel said don't expect the Cowboys' offseason routine to change much, though he could hold some practices in June when the freshmen first arrive on campus. If the vote goes through, all teams will start next season at "Week Zero" (giving all programs two bye weeks) and the January transfer portal will be pared down to just 10 days instead of two weeks. Sawvel is in favor of both.

* Sawvel raved about the effort and execution over the previous two practices as the Cowboys install their game plan for CSU. That means the first and second squads are now facing the scout team.

* If the season started today, this very well could be the offensive line Wyoming rolls out in Fort Collins: Rex Johnsen (from left tackle to right), Kalvin Janssen, Jason Maciejczak, Giovanni Panozzo and Braylon Jenkins. Don't bet the mortgage, but it appears both guards and the center will make their first-career starts in the opener. You can read all about the competition at left guard HERE.

* Make sure to download our FREE mobile app right HERE. Once you do, make sure to turn on all alerts and don't miss any of the latest in University of Wyoming news. You can also sign up for our daily newsletter right HERE.

* The Roaring Repeater Podcast, fueled by Laramie Range Ford, made its return last Tuesday. You can listen to that right HERE. Jared Newland and myself will hit record around 2 p.m. Mountain Time each Tuesday, so if you have any questions you want answered, send them via social media or to cody@7220sports.com.

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