Football is officially back in Laramie, KNEB.TV reports.
The Wyoming Cowboys opened up their 2025 season Monday morning with the first official practice under second-year head coach Jay Sawvel. With 24 practices scheduled before their season opener at Akron on August 28, the team got to work early on the grass at the North 40 Fields, starting the grind toward kickoff.
“It was good to get out on the field today and get some work in,” Sawvel said after the session. “There was good effort, and now we’ve got to work on getting into football shape. I thought the mechanics of practice went well — guys weren’t running around lost, which is a good sign for Day One.”
One of Wyoming’s biggest assets heading into the season? The offensive line. The Cowboys bring back experience and talent, led by preseason All-Mountain West picks Caden Barnett and Jack Walsh.
Barnett, who’s appeared in 35 games, is a reliable anchor. Walsh — named the No. 25 guard in the country last season by Pro Football Focus — continues to be a force in the middle.
Also returning: Wes King, Jake Davies, Nate Geiger, Rex Johnsen, Quinn Grovesteen-Matchey, and Luke Sandy, who’s back after missing last season due to injury. Bottom line: the Cowboys have depth and experience up front, and it’s showing already.
The first day of fall camp came with a little extra buzz, as four Wyoming players were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 — a scouting list spotlighting prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys on the list:
- John Michael Gyllenborg, Tight End
- Wes King, Offensive Guard
- Jack Walsh, Center
- Tyce Westland, Defensive End
The Mountain West landed 36 total selections, the fifth-most among all FBS conferences — trailing only the big dogs: SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC.
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