LARAMIE – The Pokes should have a fierce pass rush this fall.
 
That was an observation first-year Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel made during the early stages of spring practice.
 
Sixth-year senior DeVonne Harris leads a deep group of experienced defensive ends. Sabastian Harsh and Braden Siders are both healthy and have added significant muscle to their frames.
 
The trio expects to improve dramatically on their combined 111 tackles, 11.0 sacks and 18.0 tackles for loss in 2023.
 
"DeVonne has got a high football I.Q., which is huge. That helps us in the room with a handful of young players. He's able to kind of give them feedback and be almost a second coach in the room," defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks said. "There were a handful of opportunities that we left on the field last year that I think he sees on tape, and he knows there's room for improvement with how we finish."
 
Harsh overcame a devastating knee injury suffered just before the 2022 opener to play in 12 games last season. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound junior from Scottsbluff, Neb., sacked Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and came up with a critical third-down stop during UW's comeback in the fourth quarter against Toledo in the Arizona Bowl.
 
"It just lets me know that once I get into that moment, I've been there before and I can make that play," Harris said. "There's no reason for me to be nervous when I do get there. I just need to be cool, calm, collected and not think about the play too much, just go do my job and finish the play the right way."
 
Siders missed spring practice in 2023 due to shoulder surgery and played through a hamstring injury during UW's 9-4 campaign.
 
"Braden Siders is a way different player right now than he was at any time last year," Sawvel said. "Sabastian Harsh is 18 pounds bigger than he was at any time last year and he's also more explosive."
 
Two other contributors, Kevin Sjogren and Tyce Westland, are also back after getting meaningful snaps in key situations. Sophomore Ethan Day is expected to add a sixth body to the rotation with freshmen Jordan Turnbull and Tell Wade developing quickly as well.
 
"Tyce really stood out for a young buck," Hendricks said. Westland had 4.0 tackles for loss and returned a fumble 61 yards before getting caught from behind short of the end zone in the win over Colorado State. "Kevin and Ethan have developed physically in the weight room."
 
The formidable front is led by senior Jordan Bertagnole, the all-Mountain West defensive tackle from Casper who decided to use his extra year of eligibility for one final ride with the Cowboys.
 
Caleb Robinson suffered a season-ending knee injury during a goal-line drill and Gavin Meyer made a surprising decision to enter the transfer portal following spring practice.
 
The losses open the door for 6-4, 286-pound sophomore Jaden Williams and 6-3, 285-pound redshirt freshman Jayden Williams to step into the spotlight.
 
"He's a really good young man. You appreciate where he's at and how he works day in and day out," Sawvel said of Jaden Williams. "For that young man right there, it comes down to using his hands, playing with pad level. When he plays with a low pad level and leads with his hands, he's a problem."
 
And Jayden Williams?
 
"He's such a fun kid to coach and he's such a fun person to be around," Sawvel said. "We had the GPS bugs on everybody, and he had the second-fastest speed on the team (one) day and he's 285 pounds. I'm really excited about what his future is, really excited about what his present is. He's got a lot of work to do fundamentally and things like that, but he's putting in the work and has a high level of care."
 
Getting both Jaden and Jayden Williams up to speed during fall camp will be critical for new defensive tackles coach Jeff Phelps.
 
Junior Ben Florentine, who missed the end of spring with an injury, adds experience and could also win the starting spot next to Bertagnole.
 
Sophomore Dante Drake and redshirt freshmen Lucas Samsula and Cody Crawford add capable depth to the interior of the defensive line after tearing it up on the scout team in 2023.
 
"Our defensive line is doing a good job," Sawvel said. "I think we have the ability to pressure a quarterback multiple ways."
 
(Editor's note: This is the sixth in a nine-part series reviewing UW's position groups. Monday's review: Linebackers).
 
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