It was a physical practice as the Wyoming Cowboys completed their 20th practice of fall camp on Tuesday in War Memorial Stadium. The Pokes were in full pads Tuesday morning, and they worked a lot on the inside running game. Head coach Craig Bohl commented to media after practice that the team would continue to incorporate physical practices as they prepare for their season opener on Sept. 2 against a physical Big Ten opponent in the Iowa Hawkeyes in a game to be played in Iowa City.
One of the Cowboy veterans who will help lead Wyoming again in 2017 will be junior strong safety Andrew Wingard. Wingard was one of the 16 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award as a sophomore in 2016. The Thorpe Award honors the nation's best defensive back each season. He earned First Team All-Mountain West honors in 2016 in voting by conference head coaches and media. Entering the 2017 season, MW media members voted him the 2017 Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He is also on three national Preseason Watch Lists entering his junior year: the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List.
Tuesday's Practice Notes
·Bohl announced that junior wide receiver James Price would be out approximately six weeks after being diagnosed with a broken clavicle that he suffered in last Saturday's scrimmage. Junior tight end Austin Fort remains out with a PCL strain in a knee.
·The Cowboys return two talented sophomore receivers in C.J. Johnson and Austin Conway, who both saw extensive game action a year ago. Among the young receivers who will get increased opportunities during Price's absence will be another sophomore, John Okwoli who returns after playing some as a true freshman last season. Two 2017 true freshmen, Jared Scott and Avante' Cox, and redshirt freshman Dontae Crow also have been working with the No. 1 offense throughout fall camp.
·At tight end, juniors Tyree Mayfield and Josh Harshman provide the Cowboy offense with two experienced tight end targets.
Quoting the Coach (Quotes from Head Coach Craig Bohl)
"We had a full-padded practice today -- a lot of hard work," said Bohl. "We worked on two-minute situations and worked on the inside run game. Anytime you have a chance to get in some hard work against one another that's good.
"We know we're going to be encountering a very physical, well-coached, excellent football program in the University of Iowa, so it's important for us to keep our focus and try to replicate as many looks as we can get of what they (Iowa Hawkeyes) like to do.
"We do have a couple injury updates.
James Price will be out for about six weeks. He's got a broken clavicle. That's disappointing, but we'll have him back this season. We also hope to have
Austin Fort back at some point.
Shiloh Windsor (sophomore defensive end) is still coming back from concussion protocol."
With James Price being out for six weeks do you expect it to be a group effort to fill in for him?
"Some of it will depend on down and distance and the personnel grouping were in," said Bohl. "Certainly, James (Price) is a guy that we've counted on a lot. John Okwoli is a young player who played some last year, and we feel good about him. I think Jared Scott is another guy who has a big presence, as well."
In the new depth chart that was released yesterday, Garrett Crall moved into the two-deep at defensive end. What have you seen from him this fall?
"He's put on about 25 pounds, and he has good length. He's about 6'4" and is very aggressive," said Bohl. "Garrett (Crall) played well in the spring, and he has had a good fall camp, so he deserves an opportunity to get some more reps with the upper units."
Were there any surprises to you regarding individuals who made big moves on the depth chart this fall?
"Certainly
Logan Harris (true freshman center) was a surprise -- a pleasant surprise," said Bohl. "He's been working with the upper group for quite some time now. He was a good high school player, but I think he has developed a lot through his time here this summer and into the fall.
Alonzo Velazquez (true freshman offensive tackle) was a surprise, as well. Neither of those guys were heavily recruited. I believe we were the only FBS school to offer both those guys.
"A lot of the other spots there weren't really any surprises. I think the biggest portion of the surprises were some of those young players."
At running back will it be a different approach this season without Brian Hill or how do you see the approach with the combination of backs that you have (sophomore Milo Hall, junior Nico Evans and redshirt sophomore Kellen Overstreet)?
"We're certainly not going to change our whole structure in the running game. There is a long pattern of history and success in what we do," said Bohl. "However, every time you have different players, you do different things with them to utilize their strengths. What is probably going to be different is the number of carries each of those guys gets. Last year, we fed the ball to Brian (Hill). He was our primary running back, and that was well-deserved. I think you'll see all three of these guys play and they all do different things."
You had a physical practice again today. Will you do that one or two more times as camp winds down, or will you dial it back? What is your plan for the rest of fall camp?
"We're going to go," said Bohl. "We're going forward. I'll tell you that."
