LARAMIE – There was a missing piece to the 2024 Pokes puzzle after spring practice.
 
Experience at the punter position.
 
After Wyoming first contacting Virginia Military Institute transfer Jack Culbreath in December, first-year head coach Jay Sawvel was able to free up a scholarship this summer to add the 6-foot-4, 235-pound FCS all-American to the roster for summer workouts.
 
"I'm happy that Jack is punting here," Sawvel said. "I think he gives us a really solid punter and I'm excited about that going forward."
 
Culbreath averaged 43.6 yards per punt with 17 attempts placed inside the opponents' 20-yard last season for VMI. His longest boot was 76 yards.
 
Now the Virginia native is enjoying the thin air at 7,220 feet and relishing the opportunity to finish his collegiate career at the FBS level.
 
"The portal was a crazy experience," said Culbreath, a fifth-year senior taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA during the pandemic. "I never really expected to come out here, but I love it so far, it's awesome."
 
UW had an inside track on landing Culbreath after signing his VMI teammate, Evan Eller, out of the portal to bolster the depth at linebacker.
 
Eller, who had 106 tackles last season for VMI and has shown a knack for consistently being around the ball during the Cowboys' fall camp, was invited to dinner when Culbreath and his parents visited Laramie during the recruiting process.
 
"There were obviously other schools that gave me an opportunity to play but I came out here on my visit and loved everything I saw with the people, the place and the culture out here," Culbreath said. "I knew I wanted to be here from the start.
 
"Evan being here helped a lot because going into a new program not knowing anybody can be difficult. When they started recruiting me and gave me the offer, I started texting Evan a good amount just trying to get the inside scoop."
 
Assistant Shannon Moore, who coordinates the special teams along with Benny Boyd, remained in contact with Culbreath from December until he officially signed.
 
Moore was on the field with the younger punters while Sawvel, who is very hands on coaching special teams, was on the other field during a double rep period.
 
The sound of Culbreath's cleat contacting the ball was different.
 
"I remember one time early on I looked over and saw this ball that I thought came out of a Jugs machine," Moore said. "I was like, man, that kid can really hit that thing off his foot. So, he does a nice job. He has been a really big boost for us."
 
During another punting drill, a member of the coaching staff looked over at the punt returners and asked them why they were lined up so far from the line of scrimmage. The next return man in line moved up 10 yards, and then Culbreath proceeded to sail a punt over his head.
 
"When he hits a ball, he's got some power behind it," Sawvel said. "Dealing with a ball with a lot of hangtime, it's coming down a lot faster when it's coming down from a lot higher. It is an adjustment."
 
The elevation in Lexington, Va., is 1,063 feet. Culbreath is enjoying the extra 6,157 feet he will have this season at War Memorial Stadium.
 
"The difference is pretty crazy," Culbreath said. "It definitely adds a lot of hang time and distance on balls. I think that's really great and can help us a lot on the punt unit this year. (My approach) is pretty much the same, just hitting my ball that I have for the past couple years.
 
"I'm grateful that I've had the success that I have had and I'm trying to do the same thing out here. Just keep it simple and hit my ball."
 
UW will wrap up fall camp on Tuesday before shifting the focus to the opener against Arizona State on Aug. 31 in Tempe.
 
Sawvel noted last week that he inherited "a developed football team" from Craig Bohl. The Cowboys return 16 starters from the nine-win 2023 team.
 
The team is confident that new starting quarterback Evan Svoboda, tight end John Michael Gyllenborg and a talented young group of wide receivers can balance the offense, which returns a deep stable of running backs and four starters on the line.
 
The defense should be one of the better units in the Mountain West with defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, defensive ends DeVonne Harris, Sabastian Harsh and Braden Siders, middle linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, cornerback Tyrecus Davis, nickel back Wrook Brown and safeties Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White leading all back.
 
Placekicker John Hoyland is a preseason Lou Groza Award candidate, and the Pokes also feel good about the new punter.
 
"It means a lot," Culbreath, who will also serve as the holder on Hoyland's extra point and field goal attempts this season, said of being targeted to fill the critical role. "I can definitely tell there's a lot of talent out here. I think this is a great football team. Being able to be that guy means a lot. I'm excited to do my part and help out."
 
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