Welcome to Wyoming Football: Grant Lott

LARAMIE -- Wyoming, once again, has welcomed nearly 50 new faces to the roster this offseason.

Transfer portal era, am I right?

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Jay Sawvel again made a list of 10 "keepers" last December, heading into free agency. Running back Samuel "Tote" Harris was, no doubt, high on that list. So were defensive tackles Dante Drake and Jayden Williams. The Cowboys' third-year head coach also wanted to hang on to players like tight end Jake Wilson, wideout Deion DeBlanc, nickel corner Desman Hearns and offensive tackles Rex Johnsen and Braylon Jenkins, among others.

Mission accomplished. All are back for another round on the high plains.

The team did lose its top-four outside targets, including leading receiver Chris Durr Jr., who is now at Maryland. Two impact cornerbacks also hit the open market. Tyrese Boss is at Arizona. Markie Grant headed west to former conference rival Utah State.

Wyoming will also have a new quarterback under center, snagging William and Mary graduate transfer Tyler Hughes, who has one season of eligibility remaining. The hope is he'll right the ship at that spot, keeping the seat warm for Gillette's Mason Drube.

The Cowboys also reloaded in the offensive backfield and at the line of scrimmage, adding 1,000-yard rusher Markell Holman and interior linemen Chandler Donaway, Jason Maciejcak and Jeremiah Katt.

You'll read all about those guys, along with 20-plus freshmen, in this summer series: Welcome to Wyoming football.

NAME | Grant Lott

YEAR | Freshman

HT/WT | 6',4", 286

HOMETOWN | St. Peter's, Mo.

POSITION | Offensive lineman

JERSEY NUMBER | 60

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Ft. Zumwalt South

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Four

NOTABLE | Gant Lott's length and physicality, Jay Sawvel, made him stand out amongst the "thousands" of potential recruits at a camp held last summer in St. Louis. Already nearing 300 pounds and hovering around 6-foot-4, the tools are there. Now comes the molding. Arkansas State was the only other FBS school to offer the three-year starter, who earned All-Conference and district honors as a two-way player in the suburbs. Illinois State, Augustana, Indiana State and Iowa Western, among others, also wanted the big man. Lott is one of six true freshmen to graduate early and arrive on campus last January. He already got a dose of reality this offseason, participating in the Cowboys' 15 spring practices. 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.

QUOTABLE | "(He's a) Very, very, very explosive, two-way player. 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," -- Austin Maus, Wyoming's Director of Player Personnel, speaking about incoming freshman Grant Lott on December's signing day.

WELCOME TO WYOMING SUMMER SERIES:

* LB - Anthony Beavers Jr.

* S - Jett Vincent

* WR - Justin Popovich

* QB - Tyler Hughes

* CB - Junus McGraw

* RB - Markell Holman

* CB - Logan Mackey

* S - Travis Franklin Jr.

* WR - Jayden Williams

* LB - Karson Butts

* S - Da'Marion Brownlee

* CB - Kendall Griffin

* RB - Diore Hubbard

* DE - Jack Dunkley

* S - Therman 'Boogie' Williams

* LB - Mason Wright

* DT - Ja'Quan Redfern

* DT - Tanielu Maafala-Barbasa

* DE - Thaddeus Gianaris

* OG - Chandler Donaway

* C - Jason Maciejczak

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Brooklyn Cheek Eyeing Starting Gig in UW Secondary

* Drake's Love Affair With Football Rekindled Through Adversity

* Richardson Has Coming-Out Party in Pokes' Spring Game

* Cowboy Offense Finds End Zone Five Times in Spring Game Victory

* Pokes' Latest Downfield Threat May Have Been on Roster All Along

* Wyoming Teammates on Johnathan Bush: 'He's Our Psycho'

* Josh Allen to Tyler Hughes: Wyoming Football 'One Step Away'

* New UW President on Athletics: 'We Will Compete'

* Landon Sims: 'You Can't Get Rid of Me That Easy'

* Sawvel Believes This Could Be His Best Defense at Wyoming

* Lofty Expectations Ahead for Desman Hearns

* Wyoming's Staff Expecting Inside Dominance From Jayden Williams

* PJ Jackson Looks an Awful Lot Like a Former UW Receiver

* Are the Cowboys Really Flirting With Adding an Option Attack?

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