Tuck’s Take: 25 Observations From Wyoming’s Fall Football Camp

LARAMIE -- We came. We saw. We reported.

Wyoming's local media was permitted to attend three of the Cowboys' first four official fall practices last week in Laramie. That was previously unheard of. Jay Sawvel has opened it all up. The second-year head coach lives and breathes football. He also believes in transparency.

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Because of that, figured I would relay what I witnessed in bullet form:

* Competition. That has been the buzz word in Laramie throughout the first handful of practices. There are plenty of jobs to be won -- starting and back-up. A number of players have expressed to me this week that it doesn't matter to them if they are the first to trot onto the field at their position in Akron. John Michael Gyllenborg, arguably the best athlete with the highest ceiling on this roster, said in the spring he hopes someone steals his tight end gig. That means someone is tearing it up. The media was permitted to attend three practices last week. Another theme emerged -- violence. And these guys aren't even in full pads yet. "We are a much bigger football team at numerous positions," Sawvel said on Wednesday. "By all the metrics of what we measure, we are a substantially faster football team than what we were a year ago. So, I think you see some of the impact of that."

* Kaden Anderson is the starting quarterback. Yes, I know, you're excited to see Gillette product Mason Drube. You're going to have to wait. While the youngster possesses all the tools -- and this staff is excited about his future -- if he plays in 2025, something went terribly wrong for this team. That's no slight against him, Sawvel wants him to sit and absorb this fall. Anderson has been sharp. He's dropping passes between the linebackers and safeties and has been connecting on long balls. He's the leader.

* Who will back up Anderson? Landon Sims seems like the logical choice, but Gage Brook isn't making the decision an easy one. Sawvel said Sims' athleticism has surprised him, especially coming off back-to-back left ACL tears. The East Central Community College (Miss.) transfer is the son of a coach. Brook is, too. In fact, his father, Mark Brook, lined up at defensive end for the Cowboys in the early 90's. "I think this is the best the quarterback room has been since I've been here," said Sawvel, who arrived as the defensive coordinator back in 2020.

* Connor Shay and Shae Suiaunoa were on the field way too much in 2024. Defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl Friday stopped just short of calling the run defense "horrendous" last fall. While that certainly isn't all on those two linebackers, being tired didn't help matters. This current room looks much different. These guys are big, fast and athletic. While some think Gary Rutherford's redshirt should've been burned last year -- I'm one of those -- he said Friday that decision was the right one. He's fully ready to go now.

* Speaking of linebackers, Wyoming might have found a hidden gem in Enock Sibomana. The North Dakota State transfer has stood out through one week of camp, starting with knocking Gyllenborg on his wallet in the third practice. Though the graduate transfer called that hit an "accident" it shows the physicality he plays with. He's quick to the ball and shows up with bad intentions. He was the second-leading tackler in Fargo last season. He only started the final six games. Brayden Johnson and Ethan Stuhlsatz, transfers from Oklahoma Baptist and Lindenwood, respectively, have also dropped the hammer a time or two through Week 1. This room is better. Way better.

* The competition is heating up in the running back room, and if I was to pick a starter today, it would likely be Iowa transfer Max White -- by a razor-thin hair. Sam Scott has looked great since returning from a lingering knee bruise that sidelined him in the spring. Damashja Harris, a North Texas transfer, definitely looks the part at 6-foot-2, 224 pounds. He has been slippery and powerful. Terron Kellman, the unquestioned top running back in the spring, now finds himself surrounded by talent. Can he keep up?

* Prediction time: Samuel "Tote" Harris will make an impact this fall. The true freshman running back has some serious wheels, blazing a 10.5 in the 100-meter dash in high school. The Cibolo, Texas native has shown off the breakneck speed in practice. It's legit. Sawvel calls him a home run hitter. He's going to hit one -- or more. Watch.

* Jayden Williams, Ben Florentine, Aneesh Vyas and Lucas Samsula have a big year ahead of them. While the linebacker and tight end room enjoy plenty of depth, the defensive tackles room does not with the offseason losses of Dante Drake and Caleb Robinson, who both suffered a torn Achilles late in summer workouts. Jaden Williams is now at Kentucky. Jordan Bertagnole exhausted his eligibility. Coaches this week have been riding 6-foot-2, 260-pound rookie Gabriel Ikechukwu. That tells me they want him on the fast track to getting on the field.

* Caden Barnett is loud. The senior right guard can be heard at every practice, raising hell in one form or another. Late in Friday's workout, he was particularly animated, his booming voice lofting in the direction of redshirt freshman Braylon Jenkins. Sawvel, for one, loved every minute of it. "Caden Barnett being on him in period 24 is because the fact we need this guy to reach his potential, and we need to reach it on Caden Barnett's timeline, not Braylon Jenkins'. It's great," he said.

* The Cowboys' front five had its issues last fall, beginning with losing starting left tackle Nate Geiger to a torn ACL just 10 plays into the season. Jake Davies, another redshirt freshman, was inserted, and at times, struggled mightily. Those two are once again battling it out for the job. Giovanni Panozzo and Rex Johnsen have also entered the chat. The top two in that group will bookend this offensive line. Depth, as always, is crucial. Wyoming has a lot more of that this fall.

* Keep an eye on true freshman Johnathan Bush. Not only did the 290-pound rookie from Whitehouse, Texas dominate in the weight room this summer, his intelligence immediately grabbed the attention of offensive line coach Joe Tripodi. Right now, Bush is taking snaps at center. Will he play this season? You better hope not. That means something happened to the team's best pass and rush blocker Jack Walsh. The future, though, is bright.

* Speaking of youngsters to keep an eye on, freshman tight end Landon Pace has seamlessly slid in during his first week of college practices. The son of former No. 1 overall selection and NFL Hall of Famer, Orlando Pace, appears to have all the tools. The only thing holding him back -- the room is loaded with talent, from Gyllenborg to Evan Svoboda to Justin Erb to Jake Wilson. The list goes on.

* Worried about the place-kicking duties? Me too. I spent a good 20 minutes watching the kickers do their thing before Friday's practice. Nothing stood out in a bad way. Erik Sandvik, who Sawvel said would be the starter if the season started today, was mostly on target. Same can be said for Cheyenne native Keelan Anderson. The problem? Neither has kicked in a college football game. This week, though, the bullets will start to fly. These two will finally face a live rush for the first time since the spring.

* Every receiver I have spoken to this week has praised Jovon Bouknight. So has Sawvel. His leadership, his teaching skills, his friendship. That room not only looks totally different, there is a renewed sense of confidence, across the board. Former wide receivers coach Mike Grant was here for nine years. That was way too long, considering the production of that group, as a whole. Yes, the talent is better, but having a new voice in the room is already paying major dividends.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Pokes Practice Report: Is There Really a Kicking Competition?

* Why Hasn't Former Wyoming QB Josh Allen Returned to Laramie?

* Wyoming Running Back Max White 'All Go and No Whoa'

* Nate Geiger is Back in Action, Again Battling for Starting Gig

* Pokes Practice Report: Laying the Lumber in Laramie

* Wyoming to Allot $2.8 Million After Opting In To House Settlement

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

* Wyoming's Jack Walsh Lands on Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List

* Pokes Practice Report: Corners Tasked With 'Changing The Narrative'

* Two Wyoming Defensive Tackles Out For Season With Injury

* I was asked this week how a Sawvel practice compares to a Craig Bohl one. Great question. I have no idea. The latter wouldn't have dreamed of letting the media anywhere near an official workout, let alone during the fall. Love him or hate him, Sawvel has been more than open and accommodating to you, the fan. That's the main reason we had the golden ticket last week.

* "Change the (expletive) narrative." Benny Boyd said -- no shouted -- those words numerous times during Day 1 of the fall. He was speaking to his cornerbacks, a room that hasn't exactly been the team's strength over the last few seasons. He told them "they blame you," meaning the fans and media, I assume. At times, it's been more than warranted. This is a big season for Ian Bell. The junior needs to stay healthy and produce. Markie Grant and Tyrese Boss, a pair of redshirt freshmen, have been solid in practice. Same can be said for transfers BJ Inmon (Snow College) and Dainsus Miller (Mercer). This unit has to be better. Wyoming picked off just six balls last season. Tyrecus Davis, who is now at Colorado, snagged one in the season finale. Wrook Brown, one of the newest Houston Cougars, led the way with three.

* Bart Edmiston is averaging nearly 50 yards per punt this fall. Say hello to your new starting punter. The Jones College (Miss.) transfer brings the pedigree. His father, Bart Edmiston Sr., was an All-SEC placekicker at Florida, helping lead the Gators to a national title in t996. Gavyn Helm will serve as the backup. He is also the team's holder.

* Who are the Cowboys' starting safeties? Who starts at corner? What about nickel? Your guess is as good as mine. What I do know, that room is bigger, faster and comes with plenty of experience. The rotation this week was fast and furious. All of them played and likely will. I wouldn't venture to take a guess on this room quite yet. This battle needs to be played out.

* Michael Fitzgerald could become an absolute steal in free agency. He is every bit 6-foot-6 and has made plays all over the field at the wide receiver spot. The graduate transfer from Central Missouri has a gigantic catch radius. He towers over corners. His speed is deceiving, too. Watch out for No. 11.

* Speaking of massive wideouts, Clay Nanke, new haircut and all, has stood out through the first week. He is making the transition from tight end to the outside. Moving positions is nothing new for the senior, who was initially moved to defensive end as a freshman at Colorado State. He is 6-foot-6, 235 pounds. Told you this room looks different.

* Wyoming's practices have been crisp and quick. Each day, the first period begins with a whistle, followed by chaos. The No. 1 offense jets to the line of scrimmage, Anderson claps his hands, and they're off. After a "tackle" is made, an athletic trainer in black-and-white striped shirt runs to the spot and places the ball. Clap, snap, repeat. While the staff is hesitant to call this a spread attack, it certainly has plenty of those elements. What was really missing last fall was that trademark power running game. Sawvel said that won't happen again.

* It's early, and a lot can change, but it's been telling to me that Sawvel, in front of us, anyway, has yet to blow the whistle and stop a practice due to a lack of enthusiasm, repeated mistakes or focus. These workouts, which have all lasted north of two hours, have been smooth and engaged. It truly looks like a well-oiled machine.

* Some other players who have caught my eye: Bricen Brantley has picked up where he left off in the spring. The 6-foot-3 sophomore receiver has made plenty of plays, but the ones that really stick out are the contested catches. Senior linebacker Evan Eller always seems to be around the ball. The VMI transfer last fall decided to redshirt as he adjusted to Laramie and the program. He's bigger and has a nose for turnovers. Svoboda, as I'm sure you've heard, is transitioning fulltime to tight end. He has shown strong hands and crisp route-running abilities. Can he become a dominant blocker? That's yet to be seen. Florentine was a menace in the trenches on Friday, giving Wes King, Walsh and Barnett all they could handle. Wyoming desperately needs the nose guard to do that this fall.

* It's hard to gauge the production of the defensive ends so far. Sure, Tyce Westland has been in the backfield a number of times. So has Riverside City College transfer Esaia Bogar. But, without pads, it's hard to tell if they are just in the area or actually making the tackle. This is a gigantic year for this new-look group. Wyoming hasn't featured a dominant edge rusher since Carl Granderson. No one needs to be that productive, but as a unit, improvement is a must. Getting a quarterback of his mark only helps the backend that much more. The Cowboys tallied just 15 sacks last fall. Westland, the lone returner, was responsible for three of those. Can big Chisom Ifeanyi (Florida Atlantic) be that complementary piece? How about Peter Eyabi (Riverside City College) or Brayden Wilson (Weber State)?

* I also didn't expect this feature to be 2,300-plus words. Sorry about that. When I am simply asked, how does the team look? Inevitably, my short answer is always the same: Better. So much better. Sawvel knows all the metrics, but I can give you the eye test. It's violent. It's crisp. It's efficient. Will that equate to victories? It should. That all starts in Akron in just 25 days.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players