LARAMIE – Wyoming's defense was one of the best in the nation at diffusing explosive plays in 2023.
The Cowboys finished tied for fourth in the FBS with Nebraska in allowing the fewest plays of 20 or more yards (36). Iowa (20), Michigan (32) and Ohio State (33) were the only defenses that gave up fewer explosive plays.
Now UW head coach
Jay Sawvel is looking for his experienced secondary to create more explosive plays this fall. The Pokes had 11 interceptions last season, which was tied for 55th nationally.
Arguably the most spectacular touchdown by the Cowboys during the 9-4 campaign was scored by
Wyett Ekeler, who broke a series of tackles Austin Ekeler-style while making a 38-yard pick-six in the regular-season finale at Nevada.
Ekeler should be in the mix for all-Mountain West first team honors as a senior. The hard-hitting free safety was UW's third-leading tackler (77) and had two interceptions last season.
Junior nickel back
Wrook Brown, whose turnover in the opener flipped the Texas Tech game, led the team with three interceptions. Senior strong safety
Isaac White added one interception.
The trio combined for 185 tackles and 18 pass breakups. Ekeler and White started all 13 games at the safety spots with Brown starting 12 games at nickel.
"Those three are critical to what we do defensively," Sawvel said. "We weren't like a dominant defensive football time last year or anything like that, but one thing we were really good at, and actually top five in the country at, was giving up the least explosive plays. A big piece of that is those guys don't beat themselves with missed alignments, missed assignments.
"Our biggest thing with those three is to create more takeaways."
Andrew Johnson, an extremely fast junior safety from Cheyenne, is also expected to play a lot of snaps at safety after seeing action in all 13 games as a reserve last season.
"I'm pleased with him," Sawvel said. "Andrew did some good things last year when he played, and he has come (along) pretty well. He had a great offseason. His weight is up and he's 196, 197 (pounds). Late year he was high 180s. He cleaned 330.
"That shows right now in how he's moving around the field. The next step will be when we get to Saturday of getting off blocks and finishing plays. I think he's on a really good trajectory right now."
Sawvel coached the safeties when he was Craig Bohl's defensive coordinator the past four seasons.
New safeties coach
Jason Petrino started developing some of the young talent behind the starters during the spring. The unit includes
Malique Singleton,
Koa McIntyre,
TJ Urban, Myles Tucker,
Jones Thomas, Garrett McGriff,
Nikos Varelas,
Lafai Purcell and
Jevon Davis.
"You talk about when the head coach becomes a head coach and all of a sudden, you're coaching his position, there's always a little extra pressure," Petrino said. "You're looking at him like, is that right? But those are the things I'm excited about because I'm confident.
"I believe I'm a good coach and I'm excited about the things that I can do and bring to this staff and to these players and to this program."
The Pokes would like to have a more reliable two-deep established before the Aug. 31 opener at Arizona State.
"We lived a blessed life last year with Wrook and Ekeler and
Isaac White and the fact that they rarely came off the field," Sawvel noted. "That's difficult to sustain."
One of the stars of the spring was
Tyrecus Davis, who came up with big plays in seemingly every practice. The senior cornerback had 27 tackles, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one interception in nine games for the Pokes last season.
"We've just got to stay focused and finish games," Davis said on his mindset as one of the defense's leaders. "I missed a couple games last year, but I'll be here for the full season this time. There won't be any silly cornerback stuff. We're going to play hard and go crazy."
UW loses
Jakorey Hawkins, who returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown and a blocked extra point for a 2-point conversion, but there are several young players competing for the starting cornerback spot opposite Davis.
Ian Bell was taking the first-team reps during the spring until suffering a foot injury.
"I need to get better in press coverage," Bell said. "I'm trying to be a true lockdown corner and eliminate one half of the field. I feel like building my press (coverage) will be important."
Keany Parks was limited during the spring, but the speedy sophomore is expected to push Bell for the job during fall camp.
Naz Hill, a 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman, is an intriguing player for cornerbacks coach
Benny Boyd to develop.
Caleb Merritt flashed some impressive ball skills after converting from wide receiver late in the spring to help the depth in the room.
Isaac Sell, a walk-on from Laramie, has also made the transition from wide receiver and made four tackles during the Brown & Gold Game.
"That position is less about assignments and more about exactness and technique," Sawvel said. "We had breakdowns at that position last year and it was because of exactness and technique. We're second-and-10 against Air Force and they're completing 10-yard balls. It was ridiculous. We've got work to do at the position."
(Editor's note: This is the eighth in a nine-part series reviewing UW's position groups. Friday's review: Special teams).
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.
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at
@By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at
Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.