Wyoming’s Offensive Line is Developing Depth as Veteran Defensive Line Continues to Shine

Laramie, Wyo. (Aug. 9, 2023) -- As the Wyoming Cowboys concluded Wednesday’s practice on the North 40 practice fields it was evident that the defensive line unit continued to shine in practice as they were able to put pressure on Wyoming quarterbacks repeatedly.  But with the returning talent on the defensive line, that is not that surprising.  The Cowboys, in fact, may have one of the best returning defensive line units in the entire Mountain West Conference.
 
“I talked to Joe Tripodi (offensive line coach) and Tim Polasek (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) yesterday about that,” said Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl.  “Within in our conference, our front, particularly our tackles, feature three bona fide players (Cole Godbout, Jordan Bertagnole and Gavin Meyer) who have stood up and gone toe-to-toe with whoever they’ve faced.  That brings out the best in you when you have to go up against those type guys everyday in practice.  And as coaches we have to look and see where we’re making progress (on the offensive line) when considering the dynamics of who they’re going up against.
 
“I’m seeing some positive signs.  I think our offensive line is continuing to make progress.  A guy who is emerging is Luke Sandy, who is from Colorado and who has not played a lot, but he is pressing himself into a position where he may be our sixth (offensive lineman), could be our fifth.  Ideally, you want to have eight offensive linemen.  To say we have eight that we feel completely good about right now would be less than honest.  But Luke is making progress and there is a real battle with he andWes King.  
 
“I also want to say that I’m really pleased with how our guys are practicing.  There has been intense competition, but there hasn’t been the extracurricular activity that ends up in a fight.  Some people think that is macho but it really has nothing to do with football teams getting better.  I’ve been around a lot of really good football teams and most of the time if guys are able to practice hard against one another every play that is what makes them better.”  
 
Leading the offensive line group this season are sixth-year offensive tackle Frank Crum and junior center Nofoafia Tulafono, who both have extensive starting experience.  After those two veterans, however, are a group of much younger players.  On the right side of the offensive line are sophomore guard Jack Walsh and sophomore right tackle Caden Barnett.  At left guard is redshirt freshman King and redshirt freshman Sandy.
 
Frank Crum is an Example of Wyoming’s Ability to Develop Players
Wyoming’s sixth year offensive tackle Crum is one of the shining examples of how the Cowboy Football program has been able to develop players through the years.  Crum grew up in Laramie and played football and basketball at Laramie High School.  His father, Gary Crum, was an All-Conference offensive lineman at Wyoming in 1981.  When Frank was coming out of high school, he was trying to decide between pursuing a college football career or a college basketball career. 
 
“Frank was a guy who was going to be a basketball player,” said Bohl.  “He had some good size and played here at Laramie High.  He, I and his dad had a really firm conversation up in my office.  I told him we were going to offer him, and I wanted him to think about that because there would be no quitting and that he was going to have to work extremely hard.  I also told him we were rolling the dice a little bit on whether he was going to take ownership to get bigger and stronger, and he’s done all that.  His recruitment was certainly more art than science.  He took ownership of his development, and he represents this state well.  He’s on everybody’s NFL draft board right now and he’s having a good fall camp.  What’s really encouraging is he’s concerned about the Cowboys and not all the other stuff.  It was a little bit of a reach -- but a good decision.”
 
Running Back Updates
Bohl shared with media that there was a potential significant injury suffered in Wednesday’s practice to junior running backDawaiian McNeely.
 
“I’m concerned about Dawaiian (McNeely),” said Bohl.  “He did not finish practice.  We’re looking at a potential knee injury, and we’re looking at getting an MRI.  We have a great partnership with Premier (Bone and Joint) and hopefully we’ll get some information on Dawaiian soon.  I feel for him.  He’s gone through so many injuries.  Obviously, we wouldn’t be pulling an MRI as soon as possible if we weren’t concerned by some of the initial indicators.  
 
“Harrison Waylee (junior running back) is making really good progress, and we’re encouraged about that.  He is not practicing yet, but he is out running now.  D.Q. (James, sophomore running back) is making progress.  He’s been cleared and we’re giving him some repetitions now.  We’ll continue to monitor how many reps we give him.  I also think Jamari (Ferrell, junior running back) is doing some really good things, along with Sam Scott (sophomore running back).”
 
On a Positive Note
There was one positive injury update provided by Bohl on Wednesday regarding sophomore defensive end Sabastian Harsh.  “We do expect Sabastian Harsh back by the start of the season,” said Bohl.  “He had a wire put in his knee (in a previous surgery) and unfortunately that broke.  I don’t want to say it was a cosmetic procedure that was done today, but we anticipate that (injury) is not going to be something that is going to hold him back.”
 
Coach Bohl’s Thoughts on Statement Made Earlier on Wednesday by the Mountain West Conference Regarding Conference Realignment and Potential Expansion
“A lot of those things are outside of my pay grade, however, as 12 football coaches in our little world there is a great deal of unity there,” said Bohl.  “I would like to applaud our commissioner (Gloria Nevarez).  I think she is really savvy and has a good pulse on what is happening.  Also, I want to give a big shout out to Craig Thompson (former Mountain West Commissioner).  There was a lot of foresight that he had as far as maintaining this league through all the tumultuous times.  We have one commissioner who has exited who is still having an impact and I think our current commissioner along with Bret Gilliland (MW Deputy Commissioner) gives us really solid leadership down in Colorado Springs (at the league office).  I do think we have a unified league.  I think we’re well positioned with really good leadership, really good coaches and really good institutions.”  
 
Next Practice
The Cowboys will practice in Spiders on Thursday morning in War Memorial Stadium. 
 
Tickets to the 2023 Season
Fans interested in purchasing tickets to the 2023 Wyoming Football season may: go online at www.GoWyo.com/tickets; email tickets@uwyo.edu; call the UW Athletics Ticket Office at (307) 766-7220; or stop by the ticket office on the west side of UW’s Arena-Auditorium.  Season tickets start as low as $170 and single-game tickets start as low as $20 for adults.

2023 University of Wyoming Football Fall Practice Schedule
(This Schedule is Tentative and Subject to Change)
 
•Fall Practices are Closed to Media and the General Public
•Requested Players and Coaches Will be Available for Media Interviews After Monday, Wednesday and Friday Practices
  in the High-Altitude Performance Center (HAPC) Team Room
•Contact the Wyoming Athletics Media Relations staff for information on when practices will end each Mon., Wed. and Fri.
 
Thu., Aug. 10                     10:00 a.m. (Practice #8, Spiders, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Fri., Aug. 11                        10:20 a.m. (Practice #9, 1/2 Pads, Practice Field South of War Memorial Fieldhouse)
 
Sat., Aug. 12                       10:40 a.m. (Practice #10, Closed Scrimmage, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Mon., Aug. 14                    9:50 a.m. (Practice #11, Full Pads, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Tue., Aug. 15                      9:20 a.m. (Practice #12, 1/2 Pads, North 40)
 
Wed., Aug. 16                   MEDIA DAY, Noon (Lunch in Wildcatter Stadium Club & Suites
                                           followed by Player and Coach Interviews in Indoor Practice Facility)
 
Thu., Aug. 17                     9:00 a.m. (Practice #13, 1/2 Pads, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Fri., Aug. 18                        10:00 a.m. (Practice #14, Full Pads, North 40)
 
Sat., Aug. 19                       10:50 a.m. (Practice #15, Closed Scrimmage, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Mon., Aug. 21                    9:40 a.m. (Practice #16, 1/2 Pads, North 40)
 
Tue., Aug. 22                      10:30 a.m. (Practice #17, Full Pads, Practice Field South of War Memorial Fieldhouse)
 
Wed., Aug. 23                    No Practice
 
Thu., Aug. 24                     9:50 a.m. (Practice #18, Spiders, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Fri., Aug. 25                        9:30 a.m. (Practice #19, 1/2 Pads, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Sat., Aug. 26                       12:15 p.m. (Practice #20, Full Pads, War Memorial Stadium)
 
Mon., Aug. 28                    Noon, First Weekly Press Conference, Location High Altitude Performance Center Team Room
                                           •Each weekly Monday press conference will begin at Noon with Head Coach Craig Bohl
                                           •From 12:20-2:15, Player and Coach Interviews in High Altitude Performance Center Team Room
 
Sat., Sept. 2                        5:30 p.m., M.T. Texas Tech at Wyoming (Season Opener in Laramie, Wyo., televised on CBS)