Wyoming's starting quarterback had four completions to the talented tight end for 70 yards to help spark the passing game during the Pokes' 31-19 homecoming win over Air Force on Sept. 28 at War Memorial Stadium.
Svoboda had been struggling during the Cowboys' 0-4 start with Gyllenborg missing the first three games due to injury and limited to eight snaps in the fourth game at North Texas.
UW used last week's open date to build on the 1-0 start to Mountain West play with the belief that the connection between Svoboda and a healthier Gyllenborg will boost the offense the rest of the season.
The Cowboys host San Diego State on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium (1:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
"John Mike being back opens up a lot of things for us," UW head coach
Jay Sawvel said. "He's one of the better players in the conference and we can't minimize the fact that without him for three games that severely hampers things you can do offensively. It just does. Now that he's back the good thing is he has been getting better and progressing each week."
Svoboda and Gyllenborg have been roommates and close friends for the last few years while developing behind
Andrew Peasley and
Treyton Welch, respectively.
The arrangement would make for a good 1980s sitcom.
"You're looking at the cleanest guys in the house for sure," Svoboda said of himself and Gyllenborg. "The best cook is J-Mike. We kind of all do our thing, but I tell you what
Caden Barnett is loud, he's rowdy. Jamari does his own thing. Sabastian same thing and he is always relaxing. Tyce is the wild card. We don't know what he's going to do next."
Svoboda was in contact with UW assistant
Gordie Haug during his high school recruiting process, but he did not receive a scholarship offer until spending one season at Snow College.
Initially, after the pandemic shortened Svoboda's senior season at Red Mountain High School in the Phoenix metro area, his options were limited. When the Cowboys lost two quarterbacks to the transfer portal following the 2021 season, Peasley and Svoboda happily filled the spots.
Shortly after finally joining the Pokes in January of 2022, Svoboda befriended Gyllenborg, a raw talent Craig Bohl rolled the dice on after his high school football career was limited to three games.
"I remember the first day we met him was the first day back from winter break. He walked into my dorm room," Gyllenborg said of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Svoboda. "At the time Caden was in there, Tyce was in there, a few other guys. We chatted for like five minutes and Evan ended up not wanting to room with us. I'm not going to name any names, but some of the people in that room were just too much and I don't blame Evan for that. He obviously did end up coming in with us and we're all best friends now.
"Evan and I are more mellow compared to our roommates, and I think that's why we get along. We have a lot in common with our personalities and chemistry on the field and all that sort of stuff."
There was a lot of soul searching among the roommates and throughout the first month of the season. Svoboda struggled without Gyllenborg, his security blanket, until completing 71.4% of his passes during the Pokes' 24-point barrage in the second half against Air Force.
Not only is Gyllenborg healthy but running back
Sam Scott and young wide receivers
Chris Durr Jr. and
Tyler King were also given expanded roles in the game plan against the Falcons.
"I'm extremely proud of Evan," said Scott, who finished with 97 yards rushing and a touchdown. "He's a great quarterback and I've got his back, no doubt. Coach Sawvel for his first win, that's a big deal, he'll remember this for the rest of his life, and I can't wait to get him more for sure."
UW's ability to have long scoring drives of 76, 94, 61 and 75 yards gave the defense a chance to catch its breath and limit Air Force to six points after the intermission.
"I'm firmly convinced he's going to be a really good player, and you started to see flashes of it. Right now, we've seen a half of it, really, the full-blown deal. That's the expectation," Sawvel said of Svoboda's breakthrough performance. "I thought in the second half he took ownership, and it looked that way. He looked like a guy that was in control.
"Now you can be a leader, now you can be a guy that pushes people when you take control of stuff."
The Cowboys, who did not get called for an offensive penalty in the game, executed some no-huddle tempo plays early in the third quarter as Svovoda followed up a 32-yard completion to Durr with a 33-yard completion to Gyllenborg.
It was the kind of night the roommates had envisioned back in August. Now Svoboda and Gyllenborg are planning to rinse and repeat the performance throughout October and November.
"I think the biggest thing is remember how this feels," Svoboda said. "Take this feeling and just keep moving forward."
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes.
