LARAMIE – Jay Sawvel's background is on the defensive side of the ball.

That perspective gives Wyoming's first-year head coach a deep understanding of the types of offenses that are the most difficult to stop.

So, what does Sawvel want new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson to emphasize?

"I have a simple philosophy … explosive players make explosive plays," Sawvel said at his introductory press conference in December after being promoted to replace Craig Bohl. "What we've got to do is make sure we get explosive players the ball, we've got to recruit and obtain and retain explosive players and then we've got to make it to where those guys can play really fast."

During Monday's first spring practice, Evan Svoboda and the other quarterbacks were focused on spreading the skill talent out and delivering quick strikes to the wide receivers, tight ends and running backs.

Alex Brown and Will Pelissier are leading a dynamic group of receivers, John Michael Gyllenborg is building on his breakout season at tight end and Harrison Waylee headlines a deep group of experienced running backs.

"I think we're all anticipating, let's let the play-makers make some plays," Gyllenborg said of the tweaks to the offense from previous seasons. "We've got a lot of competitors on this offense who are excited to have their chance to do those kinds of things."

Brown decided to return for his super senior season to make plays like his Border War-winning catch at Colorado State in 2022 on a more consistent basis.

Pelissier, who showed off his reliable hands and elite speed catching passes for Andrew Peasley during the program's Pro Day last week, is another senior ready to fill the void left by graduated receivers Ayir Asante, Wyatt Wieland, Ryan Marquez and Gunner Gentry.

"Will made a really nice catch (Monday) and got up and came over to me and was like, 'I told you I wasn't just blowing it all last Tuesday at that Pro Day,'" Sawvel said. "It was good to see him out running around. Alex Brown made some nice catches. Big fan of both those guys. They both have a lot of talent, and we've got to get big production from them."

Gyllenborg is the top returning pass catcher with Wieland out of eligibility and tight end Treyton Welch preparing for the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior had 23 receptions for 360 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Svoboda would like to target Gyllenborg whenever he has a mismatch, like Peasley did in the first quarter of the home finale when the emerging star grabbed his short pass and out-ran the Hawaii secondary for an 89-yard touchdown.

"It's a little bit different from what we've done the past couple of years. It's nothing crazy, nothing impossible," Svoboda said of Johnson's offense, which includes some no-huddle concepts. "(I'm) absolutely getting the ball into the ball players' hands so they can go out there and work. I think spreading them out will improve that and getting the guys out in space will help."

The Pokes are still going to pound the rock. There's still plenty of firepower in the backfield.

Waylee rushed for 947 yards (5.8 per carry) and five touchdowns in 10 games last season. He is healthier and poised for an even more productive campaign after flashing his speed with touchdown runs of 62 (at Texas), 75 (vs. Appalachian State), 46 (vs. New Mexico) and 28 (vs. Hawaii) yards.

"Harrison is in a great spot," Sawvel said of Waylee, who is currently competing at about 204 pounds after running at 190 pounds during his first season in the program. "Harrison is super happy with how he feels right now. Harrison has had a great offseason."

Sam Scott, whose walk-off 2-point conversion stunned Texas Tech to set the tone for Wyoming's 7-0 home record, is also more chiseled after another winter in the weight room. Johnson is trying to take advantage of the 6-2, 228-pound junior's versatility.

"I'm a big fan of Sam Scott," Sawvel said. "The one thing with Sam Scott that we've got to do is utilize him maybe in multiple different things. That's something we've talked about. So, he's got to learn quite a bit of stuff. This is a guy that can run it well and he catches it well. … He's a good-looking athlete."

Jamari Ferrell, the team's fourth-leading rusher behind Waylee, Peasley and Scott in 2023, is also competing for carries this spring. Dawaiian McNeely, the projected starter a year ago, is on track to return healthy for fall camp after suffering a torn ACL last August.

DJ Jones, the touted North Carolina transfer, is pushing the returnees this spring and expected to add to the offense's explosive elements when the season kicks off at Arizona State.

"DJ Jones, I tell him kind of like every day – I'm glad you're here," Sawvel said.

The Pokes have added some transfer receivers with track speed in Devin Boddie Jr. last summer and Tyler King this spring. Two players who have been patiently developed in the program, Jaylen Sargent and Caleb Merritt, are also ready to contribute.

Gyllenborg credited Welch for helping him get on the field last season. Now he's trying to make sure the tight end room, which includes Rock Springs native Isaac Schoenfeld and Colorado State transfer Clay Nanke, is getting up to speed.

Wyoming's skill players have 14 more opportunities to sort out the pecking order this spring.

"This is all about utilizing our players. That's really what it is," Sawvel said of using open sets, which were part of the playbook in previous seasons, more often. "I told the offense (Monday) one of the things we're going to do at the end of the spring is we're going to rank out all our skill players 1-through-10 and we better have those guys who are 1-through-5 out on the field a whole lot more than guys who are 6-through-10. That's just the way it is. So, that's what we evaluate every day."

Wyoming will conduct its second spring practice on Thursday.

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