Wyoming Edge Rusher Keelan Cox to Enter NCAA Transfer Portal

LARAMIE -- Wyoming defensive end Keelan Cox announced via social media Saturday he will be entering the NCAA Transfer portal, becoming the third Cowboy since Dec. 4 to leave the program.

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Sophomore cornerback Kolbey Taylor and redshirt freshman running back DQ James have also entered college football's version of free agency.

MORE UW FOOTBALL TRANSFER NEWS:

* Wyoming's Kolbey Taylor tweets Monday: 'Recruitment open'

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Cox, an edge rusher from Missouri City, Texas, transferred from the University of Alabama -- after a brief stint at Tyler Junior College -- before the 2022 campaign. The 6-foot-5, 236-pound sophomore never saw the field during his lone season in Tuscaloosa.

The same can be said for his two years in Laramie.

"It hurts to say this, I planned on being a Cowboy until 2026 and graduating with my degree," Cox said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "But due to coaching changes and talking with my coaches, I will be entering the transfer portal with three years of eligibility."

Craig Bohl announced his retirement Wednesday after a decade-long stint at UW. That same day former defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel was promoted to head coach.

Cox suffered a hip injury during fall camp in 2022 that served as a major setback. Last fall, an elbow injury dropped him down the depth chart even further at the defensive end spot.

"I have to keep grinding, got to keep pushing," Cox said last October, referring to now yet seeing any action in a UW uniform. "You know, I love the coaching staff, but, you know, they might not think I'm ready or they might think I'm on the brink. I'm not really worried about that because it's all about the journey, at the end of the day. It's all about, you know, where life takes me. I'm still enjoying life."

Cox registered 40 tackles and 7.5 sacks as a senior at Manvel High School in the Greater Houston Area. Cox did recover a fumble in the Cowboys' annual Brown and Gold spring game last April.

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