LARAMIE – Are you ready for this?

That wasn't the query Jay Sawvel had for Evan Svoboda as they walked into Wyoming's first spring practice together on Monday in elevated positions.
The Cowboys' new starting quarterback posed the question to the first-year head coach.

"There's just going to be a lot of growth," Sawvel said of his expectations for Svoboda. "He's so excited, he's so engaged. That guy is ready. He will be ready when the season starts. I'm really looking forward to seeing him every day."

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Svoboda appeared to be in good command of offensive coordinator Jay Johnson's quarterback-friendly scheme while making accurate, powerful throws throughout the spirited session in the Indoor Practice Facility.

After serving as Andrew Peasley's back last season, Svoboda is embracing being QB1 and the expectations that come with wearing No. 17 for the Pokes.

"I'm just trying to learn everything and see everything from his perspective," Svoboda said of Sawvel. "Obviously, he's a new (head) coach and he has been treating us great so far. I'm just kind of taking on that role of stepping up and being a leader and being the guy."

Svoboda made a spot start at Texas for an injured Peasley. In front of a crowd of 101,777 in Austin, he calmly kept the Cowboys in the game with a 10-10 score before the Longhorns pulled away in the fourth quarter to stay on course for their College Football Playoff appearance.

During the Arizona Bowl, Svoboda scored on a bruising 1-yard touchdown run to cut Wyoming's deficit to 15-13 with 8:37 remaining.

After Peasley was helped off the field after taking a big hit to begin the final drive, Svoboda completed a 16-yard pass to Wyatt Wieland and ran for 10 yards to pick up a key first down that led to John Hoyland's 24-yard field goal to complete the 16-15 win over Toledo as time expired on Craig Bohl's coaching career.

"It gives me all the confidence in the world being able to go out there and competing with the best of best," Svoboda said. "Just moving forward, I'm so much more comfortable, so much more relaxed. When you have the mindset that you can go out there and stay in there with the No. 4 team in the country, who can't you play against?"

Even though Svoboda has a small sample size in the spotlight – completing 23-of-38 passes for 200 yards with one interception and two rushing touchdowns in 2023 – his teammates have witnessed potential greatness in practice over the past two years.

Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, who lives with Svoboda, said his roommate is ready to be the face of the program.

"The guy has never changed who he is. He's QB1, everybody knows it, but he's still the same leader," Gyllenborg said. "He'll talk to all the young guys. Nothing has changed about him. In my opinion, that's the best thing about him. He's just the most coachable dude you can find."

Svoboda watched last week's Pro Day from behind the ropes as Peasley performed well in front of NFL scouts representing 26 NFL teams. There's no question he has the physical tools to play professionally down the road, but it's time to prove it with the Pokes.

"Evan is obviously an athletic specimen, but something he doesn't get enough credit for is his mind," said wide receiver Will Pelissier, who flashed his talent catching passes for Peasley during the workout. "He's such a smart guy and this is an offense he can absolutely thrive in. I'm excited to see him grow. He's a great competitor, he's tough and he's got the I.Q. that every quarterback needs. He goes up and beyond when it comes to everything."

Svoboda received some FCS offers as an unheralded prospect coming out of high school in Mesa, Ariz., but he was determined to play the FBS level and spent one season at Snow College before getting his opportunity at Wyoming.

The ending of the story is yet to be written, but so far it sounds a lot like the journey Josh Allen had before becoming the Buffalo Bills franchise quarterback.

"I'm not calling him the next Josh Allen or anything like that," Wyoming athletics director Tom Burman cautioned. "Evan has a bright future, but he's got to go out and do it. He's got to prove he can be a Mountain West-level quarterback first and then he's got to prove he can be a really good Mountain West-level quarterback. If he can do that, we can win a lot of games. I'm excited for him. I love to see kids who grind through some adversity. He was a junior college kid, he comes here, and I remember the coaches saying, 'He looks great, but his footwork is awful and he's way behind.'

"Now look at him. It's a great story. That's Josh Allen, that's Larry Nance, that's the way Wyoming historically has been able to do it."

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. 

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