Former Three-Star Lineman Getting Early Jump on the Process

LARAMIE -- It's not often an offensive lineman sees the field during his first collegiate season, especially at the FBS level.

But when you are already every bit of 6-foot-4 and have the potential to reach 290 pounds by opening day like Grant Lott does, the norm might just get a test.

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It also doesn't hurt that the St. Peter's, Mo., product is already one of six true freshmen on campus this winter.

Jay Sawvel said back on December's early signing day that the three-star prospect was already on Wyoming's radar before heading to an offseason camp in St. Louis, but even with "thousands" of prep players littering the practice fields, the Fort Zumwalt South High School star stood out.

"I'm kind of going around looking at people and (defensive ends coach) Brian Hendricks grabs me, and he goes, 'Hey, you know this guy here, he's working with the D-line,'" the third-year head coach recalled. "He goes, 'Really, I think he's a really good offensive lineman.'"

Not to fret, Lott had experience on both lines of scrimmage, though he was a First Team Class 5 All-State selection at defensive tackle.

"(He's a) Very, very, very explosive, two-way player," said Austin Maus, Wyoming's Director of Player Personnel. "We're excited to get him ... He can help us early. I spent the entire weekend with his family on his official visit, unbelievable people, and he's going to be a great, great addition to our class."

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In late October, evaluation website Six Star Football, had this to say about his potential in the trenches.

"Lott is someone who can play up and down the line, bringing a high level of versatility any time he's on the field ... His size and speed is impressive. A well-built lineman who simply creates mismatches with his strength. Stopping the run comes first for Lott. He consistently reaches double-figure tackles and has a total of 84 on the season. This is in addition to seven sacks. He has been a bright spot for Fort Zumwalt South and will go down as one of their better defensive linemen in program history."

Now, he's expected to open holes for the likes of Samuel "Tote" Harris, Diore Hubbard and Markell Holman, among others, potentially as early as this fall as Wyoming reworks the interior of its offensive front.

Lott also received offers from Arkansas State, Illinois State, Augustana, Indiana State, Iowa Western, among many others.

Wyoming also inked freshmen offensive linemen Pierce Decker (6-7, 255, Fort Collins, Colo.), Jackson Garrett (6-3, 290, Cheyenne) and Jonathan Pearcy (6-3, 305, Liberty, Mo.).

Sawvel said, admittedly, five or six years ago, Lott might be a guy that doesn't land in Laramie. With the former "predators of the program" like Kansas State, he used as an example, now relying so heavily on the transfer portal, these sought-after rookies have become available.

"We got on him then at that camp, we had him out here in the summer and had him out here on an official in the fall," Sawvel said of Lott. "You know, the length and the physicality to him stands out. So that's something there that we're excited about."