Wyoming’s Jake Wilson Making Name For Himself This Spring

LARAMIE -- Now in at running back for the Wyoming Cowboys, No. 89, Jake Wilson.

No. 89? Running back?

Did we mention the now redshirt freshman was also 6-foot-5 and tipped the scales at 223 pounds?

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Yes, this exact scenario almost came to fruition last fall. With DJ Jones MIA, Sam Scott dealing with a nagging knee bruise, Harrison Waylee still recovering from knee surgery and Dawaiian McNeely again on the shelf, desperate times called for desperate measures.

Wilson even jumped fellow rookies Dontae Burch and Nico Hamilton in the packing order.

Those two are actual tailbacks.

"Apparently pretty close," said Wilson, who is actually a tight end. "We had some guys go down last year, and coach Gordie (Haug), the offensive coordinator, wanted me to play running back. I was like, 'Hey, let's do it.'"

Has he ever done it?

"Not since middle school," he added, followed by a wide grin.

That backfield plan never panned out. Wilson did appear in four games, though, maintaining his extra year of eligibility. That's a good thing, too. Jay Sawvel has big plans for him in the future.

"Jake's a really talented player," Wyoming's head coach said last October, just before Wilson would possibly be inserted into the backfield on the road at San Jose State. "We're going to be really happy to see Jake Wilson running around for the next few years because he's a very highly talented, highly motivated person.

"He'll stay after every practice for 30 minutes-plus and catch balls and do that. I'm a big fan of Jake Wilson. I think he's going to be an outstanding player here."

So does his position coach.

Shannon Moore might have the most-stacked room in the building at the moment, led by John Michael Gyllenborg. Evan Svoboda, last year's starting quarterback -- aside from a broken finger -- has also made a smooth transition to tight end. Isaac Schoenfeld, a Rock Springs native, has also been impressing this spring.

Justin Erb was put on scholarship. Tyler Hampton, a 250-pound senior transfer from Golden West College (Calif.) has also been making plays this April.

Freshman Landon Pace, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound son of NFL Hall of Famer Orlando Pace, will be here this summer. So will newcomer Kyle Frendt, a three-star prospect from Minnesota, who was heavily courted by Iowa State, among other schools.

"He had a great offseason," Moore said, referring to Wilson. "You know, he did a lot of things last year. He played a little running back, was involved in special teams and really left here with a goal to put on some good weight. He exceeded everybody's expectations when he came back, just with the weight he put on, held his speed, held his athleticism, and you know what, through (spring), he's made a lot of plays in the run and the pass game.

"So, I'm really, really excited about him -- really excited. He's a great addition to our room."

If there's one disappointment it's in the fashion department.

Wilson bleached his hair during spring break.

"He walked down that hallway the first time and I was like, 'Who are you right now?' Moore joked. "His dad told me, it's time to cut it."

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The Montgomery, Texas product said he simply wanted a change to go along with the 22 pounds he added, bringing him up to 245.

With an enhanced role on the horizon, Wilson said he is soaking up all the knowledge, mainly from Gyllenborg, who he called approachable and said is going to "play at the next level."

Wilson lined up mainly at receiver at Montgomery High School. He excelled there, too, hauling in 32 balls for 465 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned kicks and averaged 17.2 yards per attempt in the process.

That earned him a three-star rating. It also snatched the attention of three academies -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- along with a host of Ivy League institutions like Harvard, Princeton and Dartmouth.

Texas Tech also offered. That, coincidentally, came right after the Cowboys knocked off the Red Raiders 35-33 in double overtime in the 2023 season opener.

Sawvel made a special trip to see Wilson in person immediately after being named Craig Bohl's successor. Haug, who was then the Cowboys' recruiting coordinator, laid out why.

"He was a kid that broad-jumped 10 feet and ran a 4.62 (40-yard dash)," Haug said on signing day. "He's a freaky athlete, who is going to come in and be a guy. He's 6-foot-4 and 3/4 and 220 already.

"He's got a shot to be pretty special."

Wilson said his focus has been squarely on route running and blocking. His receiver skillset has been translating, according to his coaches. Now, he's simply refining.

"They've really helped me grow in this position because I haven't played it so much," Wilson said, referring to his fellow tight ends, along with Moore. "It's been awesome ... I think it's going to be a big year for me.

"I'm just looking to play as much as I can, do whatever I need to do in the offense, help out wherever I can and just kind of do whatever they need me to do."

Wyoming's annual spring game will take place Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.

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