Cowboy Football Set to Open Fall Camp today
Opener set for Aug. 28 at Akron
LARAMIE, Wyo. (July 25, 2025) – The Wyoming Cowboy football team is set to open fall camp on Monday with the first of 24 practices prior to the 2025 season opener at Akron on Thursday, August 28. Head coach Jay Sawvel enters his second season with 11 returning starters and numerous All-Mountain West performers back for the Brown and Gold.
Second-year head coach Jay Sawvel returns some key veterans on both sides of the ball with numerous All-Mountain West performers back. Sawvel also added 47 players during the signing period with 23 of those being transfers from all levels of college football.
The Cowboys return a solid foundation on offense, including quarterback Kaden Anderson, All-MW tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, with a mix of veteran and young running backs led by Sam Scott. Also back are wide receivers Jaylen Sargent, an Honorable Mention All-MW selection, and Chris Durr Jr., along nine offensive linemen from the 2024 two-deep that includes Al-MW selection Jack Walsh.
Defensive end Tyce Westland, nose tackle Ben Florentine, defensive tackle Jayden Williams for a solid defensive core. Sawvel brought in well over 10 transfers on the defensive side of the football to compete with talented returners and redshirts that saw Wyoming lead the nation in third down defense last season.
The Cowboys have made six bowl appearance in the last nine seasons (2016, ‘17, ‘19, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24), which is also a school best.
Sawvel announced the addition of three new coaches to the staff earlier this offseason. Former Cowboy wide receiver and UW Athletics Hall of Famer Jovon Bouknight takes over the wide receiver’s group after serving as an analyst last season. Deonte Gibson comes to UW from Air Force and will coach the defensive tackles. Gary Harrell comes to Wyoming to coach running backs after spending time at Colorado.
Preseason All-Conference: Wyoming has six players on the offensive side of the ball that have received Preseason All-MW honors heading into the 2025 campaign.
Caden Barnett, Senior, OL
Phil Steele, First Team
Athlon Sports, First Team
Jack Walsh, Senior, C
Athlon Sports, first Team
Phil Steele, Second Team
John Michael Gyllenborg, Senior, TE
Athlon Sports, Second Team
Phil Steele, Second Team
Jaylen Sargent, Senior, WR
Athlon Sports, Third team
Phil Steele, Fourth Team
Wes King, Junior, OG
Athlon Sports, Second Team
Sam Scott, Senior, RB
Athlon Sports, Fourth Team
Top Returners for 2025 on Offense/Special Teams: The top returners for the Cowboys in 2025 include the following players:
John Michael Gyllenborg, Senior, TE 34 Career Games
Sam Scott, Senior, RB 35 Career Games
Jack Walsh, Senior, C 33 Career Games
Caden Barnett, Senior, OL 35 Career Games
Wes King, Sophomore, OG 20 Career Games
Kaden Anderson, Sophomore, QB 9 Career Games
Jaylen Sargent, Senior, WR 22 Career Games
Chris Durr, Jr., Sophomore, WR 12 Career Games
Returning Statistical Leaders: Wyoming’s top statistical returners from last year include.
Jaylen Sargent, Senior, WR 23 catches, 480 yards
Kaden Anderson., Sophomore, QB 955 Passing Yards, six touchdowns
John Michael Gyllenborg, Senior, TE 30 catches, 425 yards, 3 TD
Chris Durr Jr., Sophomore, WR 31 catches, 348 yards
Sam Scott, Senior, RB 435 rushing Yards, 3 TD
Notes on Offensive Returners
• Tight End John Michael Gyllenborg was the highest rated tight end in the MW by Pro Football focus. He led the team with 47.2 yards per games receiving. He was second in both yards and receptions. He was All-MW last season earning Second Team.
•Wide Receiver Jaylen Sargent was Honorable Mention All-MW last season. He led the team with 480 receiving yards and 20.9 yards per catch. He averaged 60 yards per game in conference play and 23 yards per catch in MW action for second in the MW.
• Wide Receiver Chris Durr Jr. led the team in receptions with 31 as a true freshman. He had nine receptions against Utah State for the most since 2018 for a Cowboy.
• The Pokes return four starters along the offensive line with three being named to preseason All-MW teams in center Jack Walsh and guards Caden Barnett and Wes King. Walsh moves to center this season with Barnett moving inside to guard.
• Running back Sam Scott led the team with 435 rushing yards last season. He added three scores and rushed for 43.5 yards per game on the season. He also added 12 receptions for 74 yards and a score.
• Quarterback Kaden Anderson passed for 955 yards last season and six scores. He started late in the season and was named the Manning Award Star of the Week after throwing for 342 yards in a win at New Mexico.
Preseason All-Conference on Defense and Special Teams: Wyoming has three returners and a redshirt that were named to 2025 Preseason All-Conference Teams by numerous publications. Those players are:
Tyce Westland, Senior, DE
Athlon Sports, Second Team
Phil Steele, Fourth Team
Jayden Williams, Sophomore, DT
Phil Steele, Fourth Team
Athlon Sports, Fourth Team
Gary Rutherford, Redshirt Freshman, LB
Phil Steele, Third Team
Carson York, Senior, LS
Phil Steele, Second Team
Top Returners for 2025 on Defense: The top returners for the Cowboy defense in 2025 include the following players:
Tyce Westland, Senior, DE 24 Career Games
Caleb Robinson, Senior, DT 37 Career Games
Andrew Johnson, Senior, S 24 Career Games
Ian Bell, Junior, CB 24 Career Games
Jones Thomas, Sophomore, S 9 Career Games
Jayden Williams, Sophomore, DT 12 Career Games
Ben Florentine, Senior, DT 25 Career Games
Dante Drake, Sophomore, DT 11 Career Games
Evan Eller, Graduate, LB 44 Career Games, 4 at UW and 40 at VMI
Returning Statistical Leaders: Wyoming’s top statistical returners from last year include:
Tyce Westland, Senior, DE 41 tackles, 6 TFL’s, 3 Sacks
Andrew Johnson, Senior, S 30 Tackles
Jayden Williams, Sophomore, DT 28 tackles, 1.5 TFL’s
Ben Florentine, Senior, DT 25 Tackles, 3 TFL’s, 1 Sack
Ian Bell, Junior, CB 6 Tackles, 1 PBU
Notes on the Defense
• Defensive End Tyce Westland is Wyoming top returner with 41 tackles last season with six tackles for loss and a trio of stats. He was a starter in six games with five-straight start to finish the season.
• Safety Andrew Johnson finished last season with 30 tackles. A Wyoming native, he started five games for the Pokes at both positions.
• The Cowboys return a solid group in the interior of the defense. Caleb Robinson missed last season with injury, but has 43 career tackles. Ben Florentine added 25 tackles last season for a career-best. Sophomore Jayden Williams recorded 28 tackles for the Pokes as a redshirt last season.
• Linebacker Evan Eller appeared in only four games last season, but has appeared in 44 career games in college. He is joined by Gary Rutherford, who redshirted last season playing four games, but was named Preseason All-MW Third Team by Phil Steele.
• Wyoming brought in a pair of veteran defensive ends in Brayden Wilson of Weber State and Chisom Ifeanyi of Florida Atlantic. Wilson was a two-time All-Big Sky selection He has 138 career tackles with 30 tackles or loss and 12.5 sacks. Ifeanyi added five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last season.
• Linebacker transfers Brayden Johnson and Ethan Stuhlsatz have experience. Johnson has 145 career tackles. Stuhlsatz had nine against Kansas last season and was All-OVC in 2023.