Making the Grade: Hamilton Makes Case For More Carries

LARAMIE -- Nico Hamilton entered the doghouse early this fall.

The sophomore tailback, because of starter Samuel Harris' barking hamstring and a rib injury that sidelined Markell Holman, was in the backfield for 15 plays in the season opener at Colorado State.

He was given four opportunities to run the ball. That amounted to just 11 yards. He did snag a pass for 18 yards. But it's the one he didn't catch that flipped that rivalry tilt on its ear.

Serving as an outlet option on a deep route, quarterback Tyler Hughes dumped a short pass over the middle in the direction of Hamilton. The third-quarter throw wasn't perfect, but catchable. That didn't happen. The ball skipped off his fingertips and right into the hands of CSU linebacker Oumar Diomande.

That can happen when you take your eyes off the ball.

Two snaps later, a one-point affair grew to eight when quarterback Hauss Hejny connected with RJ Vick on a 57-yard touchdown pass. The Rams would put a stranglehold on that momentum and pull away for the 35-13 Border War victory.

Hamilton was on the field for just one snap at Central Michigan. That grew to five two weeks later at North Dakota State as Harris and Holman carried the load.

That changed on Saturday.

The Austin, Texas native rushed for a career-high 31 yards on eight attempts in the second half. He ran violently, hitting holes at max speed. Sixteen of those yards came after initial contact. Though that performance was rightfully overshadowed by a 184-yard, four-touchdown outing from Hughes -- Holman also added 82 on only 14 attempts -- Hamilton received a shoutout from his head coach during the postgame press conference.

"I was excited for Nico. I really was," Jay Sawvel said, following a 41-23 rout of visiting Northern Illinois. "... Nico's a good running back, and Nico's been waiting for his chance. So, I was really happy that he got a chance to play today, got a chance to get some carries and do that because he's a good player."

An alum of Lake Travis High School, the same program that produced Baker Mayfield and Garrett Wilson, Hamilton rolled up 3,345 yards on the ground to go along with 29 touchdowns. That drew the attention of Front-Range foe Air Force and a whole host of Ivy League schools in the talent-rich Lone Star State.

He chose Wyoming.

Now, he looks like a viable option in the run game once again with the Cowboys inching closer to bowl eligibility and a chance to be in the thick of the Mountain West race when the calendar flips to November.

"As far as the vision in a run game, the protection things he does in the pass game, and just route-running and catching the ball, he comes in every day and is pretty solid," running backs coach Gary Harrell said.

Hamilton finished with an overall grade of just 63.9 in the win over the Huskies, according to Pro Football Focus.

Let's check out some other PFF grades from the Cowboys' third conference win of the season:

* Hughes had by far his best game in a Wyoming uniform Saturday, receiving an overall offensive grade of 89.3. He wasn't just a menace in the running game, either. The senior signal caller completed 16-of-19 throws for 196 yards. More importantly, he didn't turn the ball over once, an issue that has plagued the William and Mary transfer in 2026. Hughes' marks across the board -- 78.7 passing and 79.0 rushing -- were all highs.

* Seven different pass-catchers hauled in a pass Saturday, but no one was more efficient than tight end Kyle Frendt, who was targeted three times and snagged them all for 61 yards, including a 27-yard pitch and catch in the third quarter. The sophomore has been jockeying back and forth with fellow tight end Jake Wilson all fall as the team's leading receiver. Frendt, who graded out at 82.6, now has 216 yards and a score on 11 catches.

* Eric Richardson had his coming-out party against the Huskies' secondary, pulling down five passes for 77 yards. One of those was a 40-yard snag that was contested, something this staff has been begging its outside threats to do for three seasons. "It felt really good," said the senior, who finished with a grade of 72.0 in the receiving category, second to only Frendt. "One thing that really felt good about this game is the connection for the whole team, offense to defense. I feel like this is probably the best that we've shown to the fans, for sure."

* Center Chandler Donaway was the Cowboys' best run blocker against NIU. So, it's no surprise Hughes ran right through the teeth of the Huskies' defense on the second offensive possession of the day, coasting into the end zone from 53 yards out. Donaway cleared the path and the visitors obliged, vacating the middle of the field. "It was a great feeling," Hughes said with a smile. "It was super surprising. Usually, there's someone there." Donaway graded out at 72.3, by far the best performance across the front five.

* Rex Johnsen smiled Saturday postgame and said when the Cowboys' entered the red zone against the Huskies, they were "scoring that b----." That they did, scoring on all five trips inside the 20-yard line. The senior left tackle was the best pass blocker in this outing, finishing with a grade of 85.9. His bookend, Braylon Jenkins, landed second with a grade of 83.0. The entire line, outside of Giovanni Panozzo, finished with a grade of 79 or higher. "It was a blast," Johnsen said. "I mean, I think everyone on the offense had fun today. We were just going out and driving the ball down the field every drive."

* Gary Rutherford was very active in this one. The weak-side linebacker tallied seven tackles -- just one behind safety Jones Thomas -- and registered a sack in the victory. He also wrapped up a tackle for loss, grading out at 72.6 in the run game.

* Steven Perez was the Cowboys' top pass rusher Saturday, tacking on one of the team's five sacks. He landed a grade of 70.7 on 20 pass-rush opportunities. The redshirt freshman finished with four tackles, including one for loss.

* The linebackers and safeties were the top cover guys against NIU, starting with Thomas, Perez, Parker Moore and Jaden DaCosta, respectively. That foursome allowed six catches for 37 yards on 11 targets. Thomas earned the top grade at 72.6.

* Dainsus Miller was a very busy man on Saturday. He lined up across from the Mountain West's top target DeAree Rogers, along with La'Don Bryant, Cam Thompson, Afy Ibekew and Jalen Macon. Those guys caught a grand total of four passes on 10 targets, amounting to 60 yards and a touchdown. He also gave up three first downs and 19 yards after the catch.

* Erik Sandvik is now a perfect 10-for-10 on the season after booting through both of his attempts on Saturday. The first one came from 37 yards out. The next, at the first-half buzzer, sailed in from 24 yards away. Sandvik, who drilled a 21-yard game-winner at San Jose State, is also 14-of-14 on extra-point attempts.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Gear Up For Game Day: NIU Huskies

* Wyoming in Search of 3-1 Start to Mountain West Play

* VIDEO: Former UW Player, Coach Reflects on Loss of Daughter

* Wyoming Cowboys in the NFL: Week 5

* Wyoming Puts Emphasis on Defending Quick Out-Routes

* Tripodi Witnessed 'Josh Allen Experience' from NIU Sideline

* PODCAST: Pokes Need to Start Different Kind of Streak

* Sandvik Earns Mountain West Weekly Honors After Perfect Outing

* Sawvel on Cade Brook: 'He's Just a Tough Dude'

* NIU Notebook: Sawve's Six-Point Success Plan

* Making the Grade: Bogar Becoming QB's Worst Nightmare