LARAMIE – Evan Svoboda is preparing to be homecoming king.
 
First-year Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel publicly stated that Svoboda would be his starting quarterback before spring practice even started.
 
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior only solidified his QB1 status over the 15 on-field opportunities spanning five weeks.
 
Svoboda, who is from Mesa, Ariz., will have a large contingent of family in friends in the stands when he leads the Cowboys against Arizona State in the 2024 opener on Aug. 31 in Tempe, Ariz.
 
The Pokes are looking forward to following No. 17's lead after Svoboda served as Andrew Peasley's backup last season.
 
"You know when he's in the room," senior fullback Caleb Driskill said of Svoboda's gravitas. "The dude is just massive and he's a freak. You look up on the board when we go in the weight room, and he's in the top four of the speeds for the day. It's like a guy that big should not be able to move that well and he does. Then you watch him throw it and there's just a different type of zip on the ball. You know when Evan is in you've got to be ready because that ball is going to be on you."
 
Svoboda had a command of new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson's playbook as practices wore on. He already had chemistry with tight end Michael Gyllenborg, his roommate, and developed connections with a list of targets, including Devin Boddie Jr., Jaylen Sargent, Justin Stevenson, Chris Durr. Jr. and Kayden LaFramboise.
 
"I've seen him grow from my time here. I feel like he's a very vocal leader now," Boddie said. "He's focused and he can get the ball there with a powerful arm. And with his size he can run through any tackle, too.
 
"When you have him at quarterback you can do anything with your offense."
 
The Pokes will use more spread and tempo to utilize the upgraded talent at the skill positions. During the spring game, despite having a running clock for most of the second half, UW ran 130 plays.
 
Svoboda finished 17-for-27 passing for 204 yards with a 37-yard touchdown pass to LaFramboise with 2:17 to deliver the Brown team's 17-10 win over the Gold.
 
"Spring ball is kind of a chance to dissect the game, at least from a quarterback standpoint," Svoboda said. "It always feels good to end on a strike like that. Regardless of who we're going up against we're trying to put the ball in the end zone."
 
Jayden Clemons, who was challenged by Sawvel shortly after he was announced as Craig Bohl's successor, put himself in position to be Svoboda's backup with an impressive spring.
 
The senior was 18-for-27 passing for 174 yards to lead the Gold.
 
"Jayden Clemons has a role for our football team, and I appreciate his attitude and the mindset that he has brought back this offseason," Sawvel said. "We met in December, and he just wanted an opportunity. He knew the conditions to continue past the spring. He has met those."
 
Clemons was Peasley's backup in 2022 when he led the Cowboys to a comeback win at Colorado State off the bench and struggled in a home loss to Boise State.
 
Svoboda made his first career start at Texas when Peasley was injured and was also called to step in to finish the game-winning drive against Toledo in the Arizona Bowl.
 
"Evan showed last year that he can throw the ball, and I'm super excited to watch him play this year," linebacker Connor Shay said. "I think he could be dominant in the conference."
 
Developing behind the two upperclassmen at the top of the depth chart are 6-4 redshirt freshmen Kaden Anderson and Gage Brook.
 
Anderson spent his redshirt season recovering from a devastating knee injury suffered in high school at Southlake Carroll, one of the top programs in Texas, where he replaced current Texas Longhorns star Quinn Ewers.
 
"When he was on the scout team last year there were times where I thought, you're the quarterback, be more assertive, take charge," Sawvel said of Anderson. "I've seen that growth from him this spring. When he's out there on the field he's doing that. I'm optimistic about where his growth is right now."
 
Brook is walk-on from Fort Collins whose father, Mark Brook, played linebacker and defensive end for the Pokes from 1992-95, and whose mother, Wende (Brown) Brook, played for Cowgirl volleyball team from 1991-94. His sister, Taylor Brook, is a member of the Cowgirl soccer team.
 
During the spring game, Anderson was 14-for-22 passing for 116 yards with an interception for the Gold. Brook was 3-for-8 passing for 19 yards behind Svoboda on the Brown.
 
Incoming true freshman Deyon Batiste, a 6-5, 230-pound prospect from Houston, will join the competition this summer after signing with UW as one of the headliners of the 2024 recruiting class.
 
The future at quarterback looks bright, but the Cowboys can't wait to live in the moment with the program's new No. 17.
 
"It's pretty cool seeing a guy that big that can throw it like that, but also that can run and do it all," Driskill said of Svoboda. "I wasn't here when Josh (Allen) was here, but that (size) is pretty intimidating. He walks in the room, and you know he's there."
 
(Editor's note: This is the first in a nine-part series reviewing UW's position groups. Wednesday's review: Running backs).
 
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.