Wyoming Looking to Add to Roster with Spring Portal Looming

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel's workload is about to increase over the next 10 days.

His blood pressure is likely to escalate, too.

The NCAA Transfer Portal is set to open Wednesday. That spring window doesn't slam shut until April 25, less than 24 hours ahead of Wyoming's annual spring game inside War Memorial Stadium.

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Will they stay or will they go?

That is a question plenty of college head coaches around the country are asking themselves in hopes star players stay put and aren't tempted to test free agency. The booster money flying around, not to mention constant pestering from "third parties," legitimizes those worries.

So does history.

Gavin Meyer, a senior nose guard, was lured away at the 11th hour, leaving Laramie for USC last May. The spring prior, the Trojans again stole a starter, snagging offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon.

The Cowboys have already lost a number of impact players from the 2024 roster, including running back Harrison Waylee, edge rusher Sabastian Harsh (North Carolina State), cornerback Tyrecus Davis, wide receiver Tyler "TK" King (New Mexico State) and nickelback Wrook Brown.

Promising young players like defensive tackle Jaden Williams (Kentucky) and wideout Justin Stevenson (Utah) are gone, too.

Nineteen in total have bolted, most never making an impact on the field during their careers in Laramie.

While the Cowboys' staff plays the waiting game, there is an immediate check list of needs. Sawvel, who has already inked 17 portal players this offseason, said he wants to land a transfer punter. He also is in hopes of grabbing a running back, wide receiver, a pair of defensive backs and a "best available."

He wants that to be an additional defensive end after the departure of graduate transfer Dawan Martin.

Sawvel compared his free-agent philosophy to Cold Stone Creamery back in December: "Like it. Love it. Gotta have it."

He's only interested in the latter two.

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The 54-year-old added some color last Thursday when describing the type of player he is currently looking for. Not only do they have to have the size and speed to compete now, maturity is a must. Sawvel has said multiple times this offseason that was lacking last fall, particularly in the wide receiver room.

"We've got good culture here going right now," he continued. "We got really good leadership going here right now. But, you know, you got a big barrel of apples, and all it takes is to throw one s----- apple in there and the rest of your barrel can spoil. So we got to be really careful with the personalities that we're working with and dealing with, all the way through."

This staff is about to break routine. The rigors of spring ball remain, but that ever watchful eye on the open market will now turn into phone calls, emails and texting. Not only will they gauge interest, there's a vetting process, too.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are typically filled with meetings and film study. Tuesdays and Thursdays, the days the team practices, are supposed to be laid back.

Not anymore.

"We already have a volume of guys that are kind of portal announced, and we've got work to do," Sawvel said. "I could have a wish list of stuff, but does that automatically mean that we get the wish list? Maybe, maybe not. The one thing you don't want to do is, just force yourself into taking a guy that doesn't help you.

"I mean, the standard of what you're looking for right away is, you just ask the pure question like: 'Can this guy help us? Can this guy be a two-deep rotational player or better? Can he be a guy that can make, you know, some level of positive impact in the program?'"

Davis was watching the Cowboys' open scrimmage Saturday in the lower northeast stands. Waylee, along with Harsh, were in attendance, too. The defensive end has found a new home in Raleigh. The other two are still available.

Would Sawvel ever dream of taking them back?

Nope," he said bluntly. "I will sometimes in a walk-on situation, in that regard, but if you go -- if you open that door -- you're going to have your whole team in there every year. So, that's not an option.

"Once you cross that bridge, that bridge gets burned and there's no coming back."

Let the games begin.

OUTGOING TRANSFERS:

* Braden Siders - Graduate - Defensive end - 6'3", 252 - Thornton, Colo. (Signed by West Virginia)

* Jaden Williams - Junior - Defensive tackle - 6'4", 290 - Inglewood, Calif. - (Signed by Kentucky)

* Koa McIntyre - Junior - Strong safety - 6'0", 210 - Fremont, Neb.

* Read Sunn - Senior - Linebacker - 6'2", 231 - Wasilla, Alaska - (Signed by Eastern Washington)

* Tyler "TK" King - Junior - Wide receiver/ Kick returner - 5'9", 180 - Houston, Texas - (Signed by New Mexico State)

^ Cole DeMarzo - Junior - Linebacker - 6'4", 240 - Hilton Head, S.C. (Retiring)

* Ethan Day - Junior - Defensive end - 6'4", 255 - Ripon, Calif. (Signed by North Texas)

* Dawaiian McNeely - Senior - Running back - 6'2", 213 - Cares, Calif.

* Naz Hill - Sophomore - Cornerback - 6'3", 178 - Kankakee, Ill. (Signed by Southern Illinois)

* Miles Tucker - Redshirt freshman - Safety - 6'0", 186 - Pleasanton, Calif. (Signed by College of San Mateo)

* Kayden LaFramboise -Sophomore - Wide receiver - 6'4", 210 - Gillette, Wyo.

* Justin Stevenson - Sophomore - Wide receiver - 6'1", 192 - Katy, Texas (Signed by Utah)

* Sabastian Harsh - Senior - Defensive end - 6'3", 251 - Scottsbluff, Neb. (Signed by North Carolina State)

* Harrison Waylee - Senior - Running back - 5'10", 212 - Johnston, Iowa

* Wrook Brown - Senior - Nickel corner - 5'11", 187 - Salado, Texas

* Charles Williams - Redshirt freshman - Cornerback - 6'0", 168 - Sausalito, Calif.

* Dawan Martin - Graduate transfer - Defensive end - 6'4", 241 - Youngstown, Ohio

# Jamari Ferrell - Grad Transfer - Running back - 5'8", 200 - Mission Viejo, Calif.

# Tyrecus Davis - Grad Transfer - Cornerback - 5'10", 188 - Greenville, Texas

# Players who are taking advantage of NCAA's new "JuCo rule"

^ Players who have retired from football

(This story will be updated with the latest Wyoming football transfer news as it becomes available. The current NCAA Transfer Portal window opens Wednesday, April 16 and closes Friday, April 25)

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