Wyoming Linebacker Evan Eller Mashed the Reset Button in ’24

LARAMIE -- After appearing in Wyoming's first four games last fall, Evan Eller came to a stark realization -- he needed a reset.

Confident in his ultimate decision, the graduate transfer knocked on his head coach's door.

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It was time to break the news.

"I just felt like it was the best for the team and best for my interest, as well," the graduate transfer said Monday, reflecting back on the day he asked if he could take a redshirt season and sit out the remainder of the 2024 season. "When I talked to coach (Jay) Sawvel and coach Aaron (Bohl), they both appreciated me being upfront and honest with them. I just felt like I had a lot more to offer to the team."

Eller, who played four seasons at the Virginia Military Institute, said the transition from free-roaming safety to middle linebacker, played a major role.

So did the fact the Cowboys featured two seniors at his new position. Their back-ups were upperclassmen, too. Though he carved out a spot on all of the team's special teams' units, capping his college career with 15-to-20 snaps a game on defense wasn't how he envisioned his swan song playing out.

Suiting up in 40 games during his time in Lexington, Eller totaled 235 tackles, 106 of which came back in 2023. That ranked No. 16 in all of FCS. He earned All-SoCon honors. He was also the Player of the Month that November.

"I felt like one more year would have been great for me to just kind of clean up my little technique issues, learn the defense more, learn the team more, just be around the guys more and continue to grow in the program," he added. "So, I figured one more year to continue to grow as a leader, a linebacker, especially, and just learn the defense, I felt like that was the best opportunity for us."

How did Sawvel take the news?

"Look, I looked at a lot of things," he said. "I didn't know what level of experience we'd be bringing back into that room, so I thought that having someone with a lot of maturity -- and Evan's been great -- a lot of leadership and very vocal would be a benefit. If we were 4-0 at the time, maybe I don't make that decision. Where we were at, I felt like maybe this was a good idea for us, you know, going forward.

"He's a very important person in our program."

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Eller, who stands 6-feet and tips the scales at 230, joked he didn't add any weight in the offseason, he is just making it "look better" this year.

The body transition is noticeable. So is the transformation in his play.

The Roanoke native has been a menace in the offensive backfield during camp. He's not only dragging down running backs and putting quarterbacks on the run, he's picking them off, too. And stripping them. And batting down their throws.

He always seems to be around the ball.

"He's got a good feel for things," Sawvel added. "You have to be a good football player to do that.

Wyoming's defensive scheme is now second nature. More experience means less overthinking on the job, Eller said. He's now reading his keys, knows the concepts and is playing fast.

He's also finally found his voice.

Sawvel said he will never name another team captain during his time in Laramie. If he did, though, Eller certainly would be near the top of his list. He calls him "Selfless."

"That means a lot to me, honestly, because last year, obviously, we had a lot of veteran guys playing and that wasn't my role to step into," Eller said. "But, this year, coming off of a tough season, I felt like it was a good opportunity for me to step into that role, especially in the linebacker room, especially on the defense, where we only have, what, three or four guys returning that have played significant snaps?

"... You need to kind of take the defense by the reins, be able to get on guys and have guys look up to you, as far as like, what the standard is, both in the weight room, recovering your body and how you play."

Accountability.

That wasn't exactly a strength amongst the players in 2024, Eller admitted. He says that isn't the case anymore. Urgency is real. So is the slogan on the back of the players' workout shirts -- "It's personal."

"I think last year was a wake-up call for a lot of us," he continued. "We're trying to prove to ourselves, we can't be looked at like that 3-9 team that played last year or one of the worst defenses in the nation. We're trying to prove that point again, that we can be a Top-10, Top-15 defense in the nation, and ultimately, one of the best teams in the nation, too."

Sounds like a leader, huh?

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