Wyoming’s Keany Parks Eying Starting Cornerback Role

LARAMIE -- Keany Parks said he will be ready when his number is called.

His digits are being dialed.

Wyoming is in search of a second cornerback to start opposite of Tyrecus Davis. Parks, who came to Laramie in the fall of 2023 as a three-star running back and the second-ranked recruit from the state of Wisconsin, could very well be that guy.

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He possesses all the tools, his head coach said, despite being a newcomer to the position.

"I think his maturity level is right where I want it to be for a guy that's younger," Jay Sawvel said of the 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore. "But beyond that, he's got a seriousness to him. I think that that can help carry him forward. He's going to get better each and every day. This is an uber-talented guy. I mean, this is a guy that long jumped 24 feet in high school. You just don't accidentally do that."

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Sawvel isn't the only one singing the Kenosha product's praises.

"He's a freak athlete," Wyoming's starting strong safety Isaac White said in the spring. "I think he probably has one of the highest verticals on our team. So, he's somebody we can move around and do a lot of things with on the backend. I'm really excited to see what he can do for us."

The other safety has been impressed, too.

"I got a special feeling about him," Wyett Ekeler added. "He is probably the most athletic kid I've seen here. Oh, my gosh. Wow. Yeah, he is amazing. Some of the stuff I see him do -- I'm just mind blown. I wish I could do that."

During the Cowboys opening practice of the spring, Parks jumped an out route and picked off presumed starter Evan Svoboda. He got both hands on another quick pass on the very next snap.

Parks appeared in 12 games last fall, becoming a mainstay on special teams after his position switch in camp. It was a chance to learn, sitting behind Jakorey Hawkins, Davis and fellow true freshman Ian Bell.

Bell will also have a say in this race, though he is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Caleb Merritt, Naz Hill and a whole host of rookies will, too.

Parks missed all 15 spring practices recovering from shoulder surgery. That didn't help his cause. His natural talent -- along with a year of learning -- has him in prime position to become a playmaker for the Cowboys this season, Aaron Bohl said.

"Very much so," Wyoming's defensive coordinator said when asked if he likes Parks on the outside. "We're really excited to see him get a full practice session."

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Sawvel, who led the defense over the last four seasons before taking the whistle from Craig Bohl in January, preached fundamentals to Parks in 2023. Now, he's seeing the rewards of that work.

"There's a lot of upside to be excited about," he said. "It's a difficult position because there's so many different things that go into playing corner: splits, alignments, calls. I love his seriousness toward improvement. I think that's key when you have a guy that's got that and he's got that level of talent. He'll be pretty good."

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