Pokes, Sawvel Kick Off 2025 Season on North 40 Practice Fields

LARAMIE -- The Wyoming Cowboy football team and second-year head coach Jay Sawvel opened the 2025 season on Monday with the first official practice of the season.

The 21-period practice was held on the natural grass at the North 40 fields, as it is the first of 24 workouts this fall prior to the season opener at Akron on Thursday, Aug. 28.

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Thoughts from Head Coach Jay Sawvel:
“It was good to get out on the field today and it was good to get some work in. It is Day One and we got activity and there was good effort, and we need to work to get into football shape. I thought, for the most part, the mechanics of the practice went well, and I thought we didn’t have guys all over the place. I was happy to get started.”

Depth Up Front on the Offensive Line:

The Cowboys bring back a veteran offensive line with a pair of preseason All-Mountain West selections in offensive guard Caden Barnett and center Jack Walsh. The duo were named to the team at MW Media Days. Barnett has appeared in 35 games for the Brown and Gold.

Last season, Pro Football Focus ranked Jack Walsh the No. 25 guard in the nation and fourth in the MW.

Wyoming also welcomes back veteran Wes King along with Jake Davies, who started at tackle. Others that saw time last season include Nate Geiger, Rex Johnsen, Quinn Grovesteen-Matchey along with Luke Sandy, who saw extended action in 2023 after missing last season with an injury.

Preseason Watch List Season:

Also announced on the opening day of fall camp was that four Cowboys appeared in the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, the annual list looking into the game’s scouting process and beginning to preview college players who are currently all-star game eligible for the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl and 2026 NFL Draft class.

The four Cowboys include tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, offensive guard Wes King, center Jack Walsh and defensive end Tyce Westland.

The Mountain West had 36 selections and the 36 selections are fifth-most in the FBS, trailing only the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC, in that order.

The Cowboys return to practice on Tuesday morning for the second practice of the season.

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert Gagliardi, Jared Newland, Ryan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players