Wyoming Football: Offseason Weight Gains, Losses on 2024 Roster

LARAMIE -- Remember that offseason cellphone video of Jay Sawvel bench pressing 305 pounds as his players cheered him on?

Turns out, that wasn't just a one off -- and it's paid off in a big way.

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Wyoming's rookie head coach has been a regular in the weight room inside the High Altitude Performance Center. That's a major reason accountability and summer gains have been so prevalent, a number of current players told 7220sports.com.

Eric Donoval's offseason conditioning program deserves plenty of credit, too.

Sawvel lit up at Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas when asked about the strides his roster has made since he took the reins of the program in early January. Nine players have hit 22 miles per hour this summer. Another 30-plus have reached at least 20.

"I love the spot that we're in right now," Sawvel said, pointing out wide receivers like Alex Brown, Will Pelissier and TK King.

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There's one fool proof way of seeing who was fully engaged and committed this offseason, Sawvel added. To put it bluntly, the scale doesn't lie.

"We weigh them three times a week," he said. "... The Friday weight and the Monday weight. Ok, what did you do on the weekend? Did you skip breakfast? Did you skip lunch? Did you mess around and not take care of your body that weekend? We've had none of those issues with guys coming back five pounds lighter on a Monday than they did on a Friday. They're rock solid."

Look no further than Sabastian Harsh.

The Cowboys junior defensive end, Sawvel said, entered last fall's training camp at 227. The Nebraska product is now tipping the scales at 251. That's an increase of 24 pounds.

"Speed wise he's running the same as what he did at that weight," Sawvel added. "When you look at him, you're like, OK, this is a whole different looking guy."

There's more good news for Wyoming's pass rush.

Braden Siders has also added more than 15 pounds to his frame and now sits at 252.

Sawvel also singled out running back Harrison Waylee (gain of 18) and offensive lineman Caden Barnett (down 11).

"It's getting in the habit of taking care of your body to that level and it's become a habit teamwide," Sawvel said. "I think that's the biggest thing I'm excited about, it's not just this position group, it's not just these few guys and it's not just these defensive guys -- it's teamwide."

Here is a list of some of the notable gains and losses this offseason. Sawvel said he has been impressed early on with this group of true freshmen. This might be an indicator of why on the eve of fall camp:

* Caleb Hall, OL, Frosh: was 6'5", 255 | now 6'5", 265

* Keelan Anderson, K, Frosh: was 5'10", 155 | now 5'10", 170

* Dash Bauman, LB, Frosh: was 6'2", 200 | now 6'2", 223

* Tyrese Boss, CB, Frosh: was 5'11", 170 | now 5'11", 180

* Bleyne Bryant, S, Frosh: was 6'1", 191 | now 6'1", 202

* Chris Durr Jr., WR, Frosh: was 5'10", 155 | now 5'10", 171

* Braylon Jenkins, OL, Frosh: was 6'4", 290 | now: 6'4", 307

* Adrian Onyiego, LB, Frosh: was 6'3", 200 | now 6'3", 213

* Giovanni Panozzo, OL, Frosh: was 6'5", 265 | now 6'5", 275

* Gary Rutherford, LB, Frosh: was 6'1", 200 | now 6'1", 225

* Dontae Burch, RB, Frosh: was 5'7", 177 | now 5'7", 188

* Charles Williams, CB, Frosh: was 6', 175 | now 6', 163

* Spencer Rathbun, OL, Frosh: was 6'4", 260 | now 6'4", 272

Here are some other gains/ losses this offseason:

* Devin Boddie Jr., WR, Senior: was 5'11", 175 | now 5'11", 185

* Abraham Bangoura, OL, R-Frosh: was 6'5", 276 | now 6'5", 295

* Ian Bell, CB, Soph.: was 6'1", 180 | now 6'1", 191

* Jake Davies, OL, R-Frosh: was 6'7", 265 | now 6'7", 295

* Ethan Day, DE, Soph.: was 6'4", 244 | now 6'4", 255

* Dante Drake, DT, Soph.: was 6'3", 267 | now 6'3", 285

* Justin Erb, TE, Soph.: was 6'2", 230 | now 6'2", 240

* Nate Geiger, OL, R-Frosh: was 6'5", 265 | now 6'5", 295

* Quinn Grovesteen-Matchey, OL, R-Frosh: was 6'6", 293 | now 6'6", 305

* Sabastian Harsh, DE, Junior: was 6'3", 235 | now 6'3", 251

* Braden Siders, DE, Junior: was 6'3", 241 | now 6'3", 252

* Jones Thomas, S, R-Frosh: was 6'2", 189 | now 6'2", 197

* Jordan Turnbull, DE, R-Frosh: was 6'5", 215 | now 6'5", 235

* Wyatt Walters, OL, R-Frosh: was 6'4", 308 | now 6'4", 297

* Jaden Williams, DT, Soph.: was 6'4", 281 | now 6'4", 290

* Carson York, LS, Junior: was 6'1", 201 | now 6'1", 215

* Jaylan Bean, WR, Soph.: was 6'4", 190 | now 6'4", 201

* All heights and weights according to gowyo.com

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