Pokes Practice Report: Competition Leads to Combat

LARAMIE -- Two NFL scouts paid a visit to Wyoming's latest fall practice Sunday in Laramie.

One from Houston. The other, Tampa Bay.

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While they likely kept a close eye on tight end John Michael Gyllenborg and center-guard combo Jack Walsh and Caden Barnett, respectively, a theme quickly emerged.

"We had two incredible practices in a row on Saturday, Sunday. They were very physical," Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said Friday during the Cowboys' annual media day. "I asked the question, I said, 'You see a lot of practices like this?' They're like, 'We haven't seen a practice like this in years."'

Combat.

That's the word Sawvel used to describe the fully-padded, two-plus hour exhibitions. That will happen with a roster filled with depth and plenty of positions still up for grabs, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Could Sawvel name his starting secondary if the season started today? No. And that's a good thing, he added.

Each day another name is mentioned.

Things are finally starting to click for uber-athletic safety Jones Thomas, a sophomore from Fort Collins. Cornerback Dainsus Miller (Mercer), the latest signing of 23 transfers this offseason, is also impressing this staff. Same can be said for guys like Justin Taylor, Jaden DaCosta, Ian Bell and veteran Andrew Johnson.

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How about at linebacker?

Evan Eller is constantly around the ball and forcing turnovers. Brayden Johnson, all 6-foot-3, 248 pound of him, has also been a wrecking ball. Same goes for Ethan Stuhlsatz and Enoch Sibomana. Gary Rutherford, arguably the most talented of the bunch, suffered a knee injury last Friday. When he is on the field, his impact is unquestioned.

The defensive line isn't sorted out. Neither are the tackle spots on the offensive side. Same can be said for a loaded backfield that is bigger, deeper and faster than a year ago.

Competition is fueling the fire. There isn't an extinguisher in sight.

That's just the way the boss wants it, too.

"Look, we're in a way different space," Sawvel said. "We're in a way different space as a program right now. We're in a way different space as far as the mentality of players. We're in a way different space with leadership. I like where we are at."

He wasn't quite done praising those "mash-up" practices, either.

"We could have put the ball down and went for more," Sawvel said with a grin. "I had to blow the whistle and call it up. There wasn't anybody looking and knowing, 'OK, we're done.' I love that.

"... We could've went 10 more periods."

Here is some additional notes from media day in Laramie:

* Yes, Rutherford got injured. No, he is not expected to miss a lot of time. The diagnosis was welcome news: MCL sprain. The redshirt freshman went down awkwardly near the end of practice. "Gary is fine," Sawvel said. "He'll miss maybe a week to 10-day period. You always get nervous when a guy has to get evaluated or examined or anything like that. He responded very, very well to everything, and is ahead of even what the trainers had told me that he would be. So we're good." Wyoming has already lost two defensive tackles -- Caleb Robinson and Dante Drake -- for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon.

* Brooklyn Cheek has also been on the sideline for "about a week," per Sawvel. The redshirt freshman safety, who transferred to Wyoming from Cal this offseason, is recovering from a concussion.

* You already read about the two NFL scouts who attended Sunday's practice. Throughout camp, Sawvel said, 17 in total have paid a visit to the Gem City. Why is that important? "When you have the situation that we were in a year ago, when you lose close games at home, don't have the type of season that you want, and you're able to retain the players that all these people are looking at on a day-to-day basis, I think that puts us in a really good spot," he added.

* Sawvel said late last week he already plans to burn three redshirts. Those belong to running back Samuel "Tote" Harris, wideout Deion DeBlanc and cornerback Tyson Deen. There could be more rookies seeing the field this fall, too. "I think this will probably be the most freshmen that will play for us in a season since I've been here, which is a testament to the group that we brought in," he said. "We will never stop recruiting. We will always try to get it right, get the best player, get the best fit at the University of Wyoming." Who are some other names to watch? Tight ends Landon Pace and Kyle Frendt, linebacker Parker Moore, offensive lineman Johnathan Bush and defensive tackle Gabriel Ikechukwu. These players can play up to four games and still remain redshirt status.

* Worried about that mid-camp lull? Sawvel isn't. He said he reached out to other coaches and sources around the country and compiled a new schedule for fall camp. The schedule, admittedly, is adjusted and "much different" from 2024. "We've focused on a lot of quality, to where we're not going five straight days, and you get to a day where everybody's got nothing in them," he said. "Hopefully we come out and play great, game one, then you can validate that."

* Tight end Evan Svoboda suffered a "spiral fracture" in his hand during spring practice. He showed me the pins in his pinky finger Friday afternoon. He said surgery was successful and he's feeling great. Yes, it's as painful as it sounds. Twisting force, bone fracture. Ouch.

* Wyoming is hosting an open scrimmage Thursday night inside War Memorial Stadium. You're invited. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and the event, which is being dubbed a community night, is free to the public. Sawvel wants his team, especially the youngsters, to get a feel for the game-day experience. You can find all the details right HERE.

* Sawvel said he was asked at Mountain West Media Days in early July what his thoughts were about the five schools -- Colorado State, Utah State, Boise State, San Diego State and Fresno State -- who are leaving the Mountain West for the new-look PAC-12 Conference. "We bring a state on a week-to-week basis: corner to corner, north, south, east and west. It may be the least-populated state in the country, but we bring a state. Some people don’t even bring their own city. I'm excited about that."

* Eller actually asked the coaching staff to redshirt him last fall after appearing in the Cowboys' first four games. Why? The graduate transfer from the Virginia Military Institute wanted more time to develop and close out his college career on a high note. Sawvel called the move "selfless." Read all about that right HERE.

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