LARAMIE – Wyoming's defense won the day.
 
Fans in attendance for Saturday's scrimmage inside a sun splashed War Memorial Stadium didn't get a chance to cheer after any touchdowns.
 
Defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl's veteran crew, a cast that returns eight starters and 18 players from the 2023 two-deep, remained a step ahead of the offense.
 
The Cowboys have a new offensive coordinator (Jay Johnson), a new starting quarterback (Evan Svoboda) and are auditioning a list of relatively new offensive linemen this spring.
 
"Just looking at it right now, we have a new system, a new head coach and we're trying to get better while also going against a really good defense," quarterback Jayden Clemons noted after the Cowboys concluded the third week of spring practice with the public scrimmage. "That's only making us learn faster."
 
The steepest learning curve on the team right now is at offensive tackle. Laramie legend Frank Crum is preparing to move on to the NFL and Caden Barnett out this spring while recovering from surgery.
 
Jake Davies has been getting reps with the ones at left tackle and Alex Conn was getting a long look at right tackle before leaving the field with an injury during the scrimmage.
 
Nofoafia Tulafono was held out of most of Saturday's action to keep the starting center, who has established himself as a high-level Mountain West player, from "getting rolled up on in a pile" during the scrum.
 
"That's a continued work in progress and it's a concern," head coach Jay Sawvel said. "We've got to grow up and get better at those positions. We put them in some tough situations today."
 
In fairness to the young O-line prospects, their counterparts on the other side of the line of scrimmage might be one of the best units in the FBS this season.
 
Defensive ends Sabastian Harsh and Braden Siders are healthier and more explosive than they were last season coming off injuries. DeVonne Harris, a super senior, has a PhD in pass rushing at this point.
 
Kevin Sjogren and Tyce Westland, who have developed into solid rotation players under defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks, are also performing well this spring.
 
"Coach Hendricks is doing a great job with our group teaching us all the right techniques and everything. We're all taking it to heart," Harsh said. "It has been working out pretty well. Our pass rush has increased over this offseason."
 
The interior of Wyoming's defensive line is equally deep, experienced and talented.
 
Jordan Bertagnole, an all-MW second team selection last season, is not practicing this spring while recovering from offseason surgery. Gavin Meyer, Ben Florentine and Caleb Robinson are the other savvy upperclassmen first-year defensive tackles coach Jeff Phelps is leaning on.   
 
Jaden Williams (sophomore) and Jayden Williams (redshirt freshman) headline the next generation of skilled defensive tackles. The group also includes Dante Drake (sophomore) and Lucas Samsula (redshirt freshmen).
 
"Defensive line-wise, I think that is an obvious strength of our football team," Sawvel said. "Gavin Meyer, there's a case to be made he might have been our best defensive tackle last year. You take him, Ben Florentine is a year better. Both (Jayden and Jaden) Williams, (they've) got ability. Caleb Robinson has had his best offseason. He shows up more and more and more every day.
 
"There's a lot of positives in that group."
 
The depth at running back was on public display Saturday with Harrison Waylee and Sam Scott leading the way. Transfer DJ Jones is getting back up to speed after playing on defense at North Carolina the past two seasons. Jamari Ferrell has been breaking off some impressive runs this spring after making the jump from junior college last season.
 
"I think Jamari has made a big improvement from last fall until now," Sawvel said. "Jamari in the fall, when we would be running in non-contact drills, was on the ground a lot. He was out of control; his body was out of control. I see him in much more control. You see that in live scenarios where he's on balance better."
 
Ferrell started the Texas Tech game and Scott finished off the win over the Red Raiders with a 2-point conversion with Waylee held out of the 2023 opener to recover from knee surgery. The trio combined for 1,372 yards rushing and eight touchdowns during Wyoming's 9-4 campaign.
 
Dawaiian McNeely, who was the projected starter until suffering an ACL near the end of fall camp, is sitting out this spring but expected to have an impact in the Pokes' backfield as a super senior.
 
"That's an obvious strength of our offense is the depth and quality at running back," Sawvel said.
 
The wide receivers showed flashes of brilliance during the scrimmage in Johnson's more balanced offense.
 
Seniors Alex Brown, Will Pelissier and Caleb Cooley are leading the transition. Jaylen Sargent, a junior who has been patiently developing in the program, is making a strong case for a starting spot this spring.
Redshirt freshman Justin Stevenson and true freshman Chris Durr Jr. have been consistently getting open and making plays against an experienced secondary. Junior college transfer Jaylan Bean, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, made two big catches near the end of the scrimmage.
 
"I really do feel like when we spread the ball out it makes it hard for the defense to pick a certain person top guard," Sargent said. "If we can throw it and run it, it's going to be hard to stop us for sure."
 
Fans will have a chance to see how far the Cowboys, particularly the offense, can progress over the next five practices during the spring game at 1 p.m. on April 27 at Cheyenne East High School.
 
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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