LARAMIE – The 2024 Cowboys and War Memorial Stadium are under construction.
 
Wyoming fans have an opportunity to check out the progress of both projects during the team's open practice beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday.
 
Here are some position battles to follow as head coach Jay Sawvel's team concludes the third week of spring practice:
 
Who is QB2?
 
Evan Svoboda will be taking the snaps from center Nofoafia Tulafono when Wyoming kicks off the season on Aug. 31 at Arizona State.
 
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Svoboda was anointed as the starting quarterback by Sawvel after finishing off the game-winning drive in the Arizona Bowl when Andrew Peasley limped off the field for the final time wearing the brown and gold.
 
Svoboda has been sharp throughout the spring while solidifying his position at the top of the depth chart.
 
Jayden Clemons, the team's backup in 2022, has also performed well and is in position to be QB2 once again after serving on the scout team in 2023.
 
Redshirt freshman Kaden Anderson and sophomore Carson May are improving day by day as they learn new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson's system.
 
"The offense we ran with Coach (Tim) Polasek was very complex, very much a pro-style offense, a lot of stuff on the quarterback's plate, a lot of stuff to manage," Clemons said of the ongoing transition. "Now we have a coach and a coordinator to where he's preaching for us to play faster, react faster and retraining those wheels to not think as much, just react and play."
 
Big Frank leaves a big hole
 
Perhaps the most critical area of development this spring is at the offensive tackle positions with Frank Crum preparing for the NFL Draft and Caden Barnett sitting out this spring to recover from surgery.
 
During recent practices, 6-7 redshirt freshman Jake Davies has been getting the reps at left tackle. Touted transfer Alex Conn, who began his career at Nebraska, has also been getting a long look from offensive line coach Joe Tripodi.
 
The Pokes could move Jack Walsh to tackle if necessary but would prefer to play the gifted junior at guard.

The Pokes' pass rushers, led by DeVonne Harris, Sabastian Harsh and Braden Siders, have been giving the offensive line a tough test.
 
"I think the biggest thing right now is progress at offensive tackle. That's gotta come," Sawvel said. "It was a challenge Coach Tripodi gave to that group (to start the week) to find out who are going to be those guys that step up and get that blocked and get the protection done."
 
Tag-team partner for Tyrecus
 
Tyrecus Davis has established himself as Wyoming's top cornerback and the leader of a promising young group that includes sophomore Ian Bell and redshirt freshmen Naz Hill.
 
Sawvel said Bell would start at the cornerback position opposite Davis if the Pokes were preparing for a game. But other players have a chance to close that gap this spring and during fall camp when speedy sophomore Keany Parks returns full-time from injury.
 
"I'm feeling good, just more comfortable with the defense and everything," Bell said. "I've come a long way learning new techniques and a way different defense than high school, stuff I didn't know before. I know a lot more than I did last year."
 
The Bohl shuffle
 
Sawvel, who was Craig Bohl's defensive coordinator for four seasons, promoted Aaron Bohl to the position where eight starters and 18 players from the 2023 two-deep return.
 
"I make Aaron Bohl the defensive coordinator and he can install stuff at a faster pace than I did," Sawvel joked this week. "I guess that's alright. We have a lot of people back on defense so that's kind of worked out alright."
 
There are some intriguing battles for playing time going on as Bohl and the defensive staff continue to build depth.
 
Shae Suiaunoa has moved to middle linebacker to replace Easton Gibbs. Virginia Military Institute transfer Evan Eller, a highly productive player at the FCS level, has been making plays this spring as he pushes veteran rotation linebackers Connor Shay and Cole DeMarzo for the starting spot on the weak side.
 
Defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, a proud new father, is sitting out this spring to recover from surgery and nose tackle Cole Godbout is out of eligibility. Gavin Meyer and Ben Florentine have extensive experience at those positions, but the interior of the defensive line is also benefiting from a healthy Caleb Robinson and the emergence of Dante Drake, Jaden Williams and Jayden Williams.
 
The secondary returns starting safeties Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White, as well as nickel Wrook Brown, but former Cheyenne Central standout Andrew Johnson is ready to play a significant role for the Cowboys.
 
Skill positions pecking order
 
Sawvel said the skill positions are being graded every period of every practice to determine the top 10 playmakers at the end of spring.
 
Through seven practices it's clear that tight end John Michael Gyllenborg is No. 1 on Svoboda's list.
 
"They're two freaky athletes," Sawvel noted of the QB-TE tandem with NFL bodies. "The biggest thing that I love about both of those people is that they make coaching so enjoyable because you enjoy showing up every day to see those two. Not just those two, there's a bunch of other people, too. But they're just great people, they're great athletes, they're built like statues, they run really well, and we're blessed that they're here."
 
Gordie Haug's running back room is loaded with high-end Mountain West talent, led by returning starter Harrison Waylee. The Cowboys are trying to get versatile junior Sam Scott on the field in a variety of ways. Jemari Ferrell and DJ Jones are also making their cases for the top 10.
 
"There's not just the top two anymore. (The competition) is going down now," Haug said. "We're excited about four to five backs. That's an exciting problem to have right now."
 
Wide receiver is still a work in progress, but Svoboda and the other quarterbacks have a lot more to work with than Peasley did.
 
Alex Brown, Will Pelissier and Caleb Cooley have the edge in experience, Devin Boddie and TK King have track speed and Caleb Merritt and Jaylen Sargent have been patiently biding their time for this moment.
 
Redshirt freshman Justin Stevenson and true freshman Chris Durr have been consistently getting open and making catches this spring. Other young targets to keep an eye on during Saturday's scrimmage are 6-4 junior college transfer Jaylan Bean, 6-4 Gillette product Kayden LaFramboise and 6-3 redshirt freshman Bricen Brantley.
 
"My job is to create urgency among everybody," Sawvel said. "I'm a winless head coach. I can look at it and say I'm an undefeated head coach, but I'm a winless head coach. So, there's an urgency about everything we do. I told everybody (Tuesday), operate like you're on a one-day contract. That's what I want us to do."
 
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