Wyoming Adds ‘Savage’ Sophomore Safety to Backend

LARAMIE -- "Savage."

That's the term one Wyoming coach used when describing Da'Marion Brownlee's game. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound redshirt sophomore is expected to be in a battle for the strong safety gig alongside returning starter Jones Thomas.

Brownlee has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

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"Da'Marion has a chance to be a very good player," Sawvel told gowyo.com. "I think he has only scratched the surface in his development. He's physical, flies around to the football, very good athlete with a very good body."

The Dallas, Texas native tallied 49 tackles, 37 of which were the solo variety, last fall at Missouri Southern State, a Division-II program in Joplin. In 11 starts in 2025, Brownlee added 3.5 tackles for loss and broke up six passes. He allowed zero touchdown passes in the slot.

Brownlee also received offers this offseason from UT-Martin, Fordham, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Carolina Central, Northwestern State, Indiana State, Western Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Bryant, Norfolk State, Alabama A&M, Grambling and North Alabama.

Sawvel has said numerous times he is always in search of players who are obsessed with the game. A chip on the shoulder is another must.

Brownlee says he possesses both.

"I don’t love this game, I live it," he said. "I'm going to lay people out for the state of Wyoming. I’m ready to go."

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The Braswell High School product said he roamed the secondary in a 4-2-5 defense at MSSU. That scheme made this move appealing. Laramie, though, Brownlee said, sold him.

"The people," he added. "Being a city boy, coming here felt like everyone here is family and connected with each other. That’s something I love to be a part of."

Brownlee will join a defense that suffered some attrition on the backend, including the loss of starter Andrew Johnson, who exhausted his eligibility. Justin Taylor left via free agency and recently signed with Central Michigan, Wyoming's Week-3 opponent.

The Cowboys also lost a pair of cornerbacks on the open market. Tyrese Boss (Arizona) started all 12 games last fall while Markie Grant (Utah State) rotated in behind Ian Bell and Dainsus Miller. The latter also graduated.

Tyson Shamsid-Deen, BJ Inmon and Bell are the top returning corners. They will be joined by newcomers Junus McGraw (West Liberty) and Logan Mackay (Weber State), along with true freshmen Kanye Anderson and Kendall Griffin.

Safeties Brooklyn Cheek, Jaden DaCosta, David Leonard, Bleyne Bryant, Kaiden Kimball-Turner, Jett Vincent (CSU transfer) and Lafai Purcell, along with rookie Therman "Boogie" Williams -- who is an early enrollee -- will battle for positioning this offseason.

Desman Hearns will likely remain atop the depth chart at the nickel spot, followed by Alvin Ampofo and Jacksonville State transfer Travis Franklin Jr.

Wyoming currently has 19 transfers, who will begin classes this week. A 20th -- a running back -- is currently on campus, according to a source familiar with the situation. The staff is also keeping its collective eyes peeled for an additional receiver.

The final day of enrollment at UW is Monday.

Spring practice in Laramie is scheduled to begin March 24. Those 15 practices culminate with the annual game April 25 inside War Memorial Stadium.

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