LARAMIE – Sadly, Ben Florentine said the "Mustard Gas" nickname retired with Craig Bohl.
 
The good news for the Pokes is the nose guard is still stronger than ever and will have a featured role on Wyoming's defensive line during Jay Sawvel's first season as head coach.
 
Florentine, who weighed 218 pounds when he arrived at UW three years ago, is now pushing his way through fall camp at 280 pounds.
 
Through nine practices, Florentine has been getting the first-team reps next to senior defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole.
 
"I've loved every second of it," Florentine said of the opportunity to compete for a starting spot on a veteran defense. "This is something I've been working for and wanting for a while, so putting me in this position is a lot of pressure, but I've been handling it and getting better every day."
 
Due to a cluster of injuries on the interior of the UW defensive line down the stretch in 2022, Florentine was thrust into the lineup for meaningful snaps against Boise State and Fresno State that season.
 
During the Cowboys' 9-4 2023 campaign, the junior from Anaheim, Calif., finished with 11 tackles in 12 games in the rotation behind Cole Godbout.
 
"Ben has gotten progressively better each year," Sawvel said after Friday's practice, the ninth in the last 10 days for the Pokes. "He just shows up. He's got a really high motor; he is a really good athlete because he is a guy who was a smaller guy that has grown into what he is now."
 
Florentine, who is listed at 6-foot-1, has been impressive during his violent wrestling matches at the line of scrimmage with 6-3, 312-pound right guard Jack Walsh.
 
"Ben Florentine is playing really great," Walsh said on the One Wyoming Podcast. "He reminds all of us of Byron Murphy from Texas. Just a short, strong dude that if you don't play low, you're going to be in trouble."
 
Murphy was picked in the first round of the NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
 
Accruing a full season of experience and holding his own in big games against Texas Tech and Texas boosted Florentine's confidence.
 
"Playing in only two games the year before that, big games but only two games, was a big step," said Florentine, a junior who redshirted in 2021. "Last year I got my footing underneath me and I know what it feels like to play in big crowd situations. That was big."
 
The Cowboys also need redshirt sophomore Jaden Williams to have a breakout season and redshirt freshmen Lucas Samsula, Jayden Williams and Dante Drake to add depth to the promising young group.
 
But with the graduation of Godbout and the loss of Caleb Robinson to a season-ending knee injury, the door has swung open for Florentine to step through in lead role alongside Bertagnole.
 
"He's a tough young man," defensive tackles coach Jeff Phelps said of Florentine. "He's got built in leverage and he's got great strength. He comes to work every day and he's truly playing with that chip on his shoulder. He wants to prove he's one of the best guys in the room and command a lot of the rep counts and be a leader. That's what he's been able to do. It's fun to watch him out there.
 
"I know there are still things he wants to get better at, but he's constantly grinding. That's what I love about him. He's not satisfied and hitting a plateau. He keeps getting better and better each time he steps out on the field."
 
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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