As the Wyoming Cowboys gear up for the 2025 football season, the inside run periods during spring practice are helping to set the tone for the team’s success, University of Wyoming Athletics reports.
The focus on physicality, particularly in the trenches, is evident as the Cowboys look to build on their strength and experience between the offensive and defensive lines.
Head coach Jay Sawvel has emphasized the importance of physical play at the line of scrimmage, noting that this intensity will permeate the entire team.
“We’ve got to live a physicality, and every position is a part of it,” Sawvel remarked following a grueling practice session on Tuesday in the Indoor Practice Facility.
He even joked about bringing that same level of toughness to other positions, like kicker, with a playful reference to Erik Sandvik.
On the offensive line, there has been a shift in personnel that has strengthened the middle of the unit. Senior Jack Walsh has moved from right guard to center, while senior Caden Barnett has transitioned from right tackle to right guard. This move, alongside the presence of junior Wes King at left guard, has provided stability and depth. The trio enters the season with a combined 91 games of experience, setting the stage for strong offensive line play.
For running back Terron Kellman, who transferred from Charlotte, the chemistry with his offensive line is already showing.
“I love Jack, I love Wes, I love Caden,” Kellman said. “Just coming in here they welcomed me with open arms. They are great interior O-line. I feel like they will be the glue and the leaders of the O-line we need.”
On the defensive side, seniors Ben Florentine and Caleb Robinson are leading the charge on the interior defensive line, with sophomores Dante Drake and Lucas Samsula, along with graduate transfer Aneesh Vyas, also getting significant reps. Robinson, who missed the 2024 season due to injury, is particularly excited about the progress of the younger players.
“Now we have young guys who have been tested, and they know what it’s like in a game,” he said. “They’re a little older and more mature. I’m excited to take that road with them.”
Sawvel noted that Saturday’s practice was one of the most physical and high-effort sessions the team has had since he joined as defensive coordinator in 2020. During one inside run period, Kellman, weighing 210 pounds, took on a forceful collision with the 305-pound Vyas, showcasing the intensity of the drills.
“(Offensive coordinator Jay) Johnson and Coach Sawvel preach to us that we need to be the hammer, not the nail,” Kellman said. “Having that dog mentality about yourself not to be pushed around and to always be the most physical on the field.”
Jay Johnson, the offensive coordinator, has implemented a balanced, up-tempo offensive scheme that has featured promising connections between the quarterbacks and a talented group of receivers, including John Michael Gyllenborg, Chris Durr Jr., Jaylen Sargent, Jaylan Bean, and former quarterback Evan Svoboda.
However, for all the excitement around the passing game, it all starts with the inside run. As Caleb Robinson put it:
“It’s great for Wyoming football, and it’s great for the D-tackles to go against them play by play, blow by blow, making each other better. Iron sharpens iron and what better way to do it than have your best versus best.”
