Pokes Position Breakdown: Cornerbacks
LARAMIE -- Wyoming football season is right around the corner.
Jay Sawvel and his team will hit the practice fields in Laramie July 28, kicking off training camp just 31 days ahead of the Cowboys Thursday night opener at Akron.
Nearly 50 new players -- both freshmen and portal signings -- litter this new-look roster as this program attempts to put a disappointing 3-9 season even further in the rear-view mirror. Hopefully you're learning about all the new faces in our summer series Welcome to Wyoming Football.
According to ESPN, UW returns 56% of its production (104 combined starts) from last season, including its leading rusher (Sam Scott), receiver (Jaylen Sargent) and tight end (John Michael Gyllenborg). Three offensive linemen -- Wes King, Jack Walsh and Caden Barnett -- are back in the fold, too. So is quarterback Kaden Anderson, who took the reins late in 2024.
Let's break it all down:
PLAYERS | Ian Bell, BJ Inmon, Caleb Merritt, Markie Grant, Tyrese Boss, Malique Singleton, Dainsus Miller, Isaac Sell, Tyson Deen
POSITION COACH | Benny Boyd - 6th season
WHAT TO WATCH | Can Tyson Deen -- all 5-foot-10, 170 pounds of him -- really make a push to enter the starting role as a true freshman? Jay Sawvel thinks so, saying he's as "physically talented" as he's seen in five years in Laramie. Deen, an early enrollee, was impressive during the spring, going up against the Cowboys' much taller receiving corps. Ian Bell hasn't been full speed in quite some time, dealing with a lingering foot injury throughout the 2024 campaign. The junior has shown promise. He started four games last fall. Will he take the next step? BJ Inmon is an intriguing option on the island. The Snow College transfer also made plays throughout the spring. Dainsus Miller, who spent last season at Mercer, had a breakout performance against North Dakota State, recording six tackles in the FCS playoff matchup. That's likely what landed him here. Markie Grant and Tyrese Boss have also been on the staff's radar.
SUMMARY | Wyoming's secondary allowed nearly 219 yards passing per game last season. That ranks 68th in the nation out of 133 FBS programs. That group also gave up 16 touchdowns through the sky and an average of nearly 13 yards per catch. Could be worse. However, you do have to account for the fact the schedule, as always, includes run-heavy Air Force, who threw for just 115 yards in a loss last September in Laramie. New Mexico's Devon Dampier accounted for just 164 through the air. When it came to pass-happy teams, though, they often took full advantage of a banged up secondary and a limited pass rush. BYU torched UW for 318 passing yards. North Texas tacked on that same exact number the following week. The transfer portal impacted this group during the offseason. Presumed starter Keany Parks was lured away by Houston in March. Tyrecus Davis, who is now at Colorado, was granted an additional season thanks to the NCAA's surprise junior college ruling. That was the Cowboys' starting duo for a large chunk of the season. The lack of an effective pass rush really hurt this unit in '24. Wyoming tallied just 15 sacks. QB pressures were limited, too. Injuries at the safety spot didn't help, either. Starters Isaac White and Wyett Ekeler were injured during the preseason slate. Those ailments lingered.
QUOTABLE | "I think, at corner, we're getting to where we could potentially have more playable guys than what we've had. You know, we went through a couple of years around here where we've had maybe two guys, and the next guy you put in, you're like, 'I hope this doesn't have to be long term.' You may have three, at best. I think we may get to a point where we have more playable guys," UW head coach Jay Sawvel said during spring practice last April in Laramie.
OTHER POSITION BREAKDOWNS:
University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
More From 7220 Sports
