Welcome to Wyoming Football: Tyler Hughes
LARAMIE -- Wyoming, once again, has welcomed nearly 50 new faces to the roster this offseason.
Transfer portal era, am I right?
Jay Sawvel again made a list of 10 "keepers" last December, heading into free agency. Running back Samuel "Tote" Harris was, no doubt, high on that list. So were defensive tackles Dante Drake and Jayden Williams. The Cowboys' third-year head coach also wanted to hang on to players like tight end Jake Wilson, wideout Deion DeBlanc, nickel corner Desman Hearns and offensive tackles Rex Johnsen and Braylon Jenkins, among others.
Mission accomplished. All are back for another round on the high plains.
The team did lose its top-four outside targets, including leading receiver Chris Durr Jr., who is now at Maryland. Two impact cornerbacks also hit the open market. Tyrese Boss is at Arizona. Markie Grant headed west to former conference rival Utah State.
Wyoming will also have a new quarterback under center, snagging William and Mary graduate transfer Tyler Hughes, who has one season of eligibility remaining. The hope is he'll right the ship at that spot, keeping the seat warm for Gillette's Mason Drube.
The Cowboys also reloaded in the offensive backfield and at the line of scrimmage, adding 1,000-yard rusher Markell Holman and interior linemen Chandler Donaway, Jason Maciejcak and Jeremiah Katt.
You'll read all about those guys, along with 20-plus freshmen, in this summer series: Welcome to Wyoming football.
NAME | Tyler Hughes
YEAR | Graduate Transfer
HT/WT | 6',0", 210
HOMETOWN | Marietta, Ga.
POSITION | Quarterback
JERSEY NUMBER | 6
PREVIOUS SCHOOL | William and Mary
YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | One
NOTABLE | Tyler Hughes became the first quarterback in William and Mary history to throw for more than 2,500 yards and rush for another 600 in a single season. He also accounted for 31 touchdowns last fall, 20 of which came through the air. Sawvel and Co. said he wanted a dual-threat under center in 2026. Taylor, who spent the previous two seasons with the NFL's Buffalo Bills before being named the new offensive coordinator at Wyoming in December, also recruited Hughes to Williamsburg back in 2022.
QUOTABLE | "He fits the vision of exactly what we need to have offensively, and the vision of why coach (Christian) Taylor was hired. There are physical traits when you watch him on video, there are physical traits when you see him play and how he operates on the field. He's got a good arm and he is very mobile, not only within a structured run game, but just, OK, play breaks down and there's 15 yards... That's something we didn't have a year ago." -- Jay Sawvel on his early impressions of his new signal caller.
WELCOME TO WYOMING SUMMER SERIES:
* LB - Anthony Beavers Jr.
* S - Jett Vincent
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* Are the Cowboys Really Flirting With Adding an Option Attack?
Just The Facts: Size Doesn't Matter For Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- Just The Facts: Size Doesn't Matter For Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium
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