LARAMIE – The Wyoming running back room is expecting a reboot in 2025.
 
Projected starter Harrison Waylee, who has not suited up for the Cowboys this season after suffering a knee injury during fall camp, will redshirt.
 
Head coach Jay Sawvel announced during his Monday press conference that the dynamic Waylee plans to play in four games this season when healthy and will use the extra year of eligibility next season.
 
"He and I have a great relationship," Sawvel said. "This is something we talked about three weeks ago. … Once he's ready to go he will play four games. If we were fortunate enough to get to a bowl (game) he could play in the bowl and play in a fifth (game)."
 
Waylee has been making steady progress since undergoing a surgical procedure on his knee last month. He recently ditched his crutches and was walking up and down stairs at the facility on Monday wearing a protective brace.
 
"He's in a very good spirit about it," Sawvel said. "There's an academic component. He was forthright and completely into it in the fact that a six-game senior season wasn't what he was looking for. He wants a full year, and I stand behind that."
 
Waylee, who led UW in rushing in 2023 with 947 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games, isn't the only injured running back expected to suit up for the Pokes next season.
 
Dawaiian McNeely, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against BYU, plans to begin gearing up for the 2025 campaign after recovering from surgery. Sawvel said the latest injury isn't as severe as the torn ACL that kept McNeely sidelined all of last season.
 
"The fortunate thing in Dawaiian's situation is he will have a full offseason," Sawvel said. "This is not a reconstruction; this is not the extent to what he had before. The good thing in his situation is when we start back to winter workouts and spring practice, he's full go. …
 
"The hope would be that we have a stronger version of him next year that we can keep healthy."
 
In the meantime, UW will continue leaning on the rotation of DJ Jones, Sam Scott and Jamari Ferrell in the backfield against Air Force on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
 
After taking a close look at the first four games of the season to "redefine" the team entering the conference opener, Sawvel said Scott will have an increased role, along with Tyler King at wide receiver and a healthier John Michael Gyllenborg at tight end.
 
During the loss at North Texas, Scott led the Cowboys with 11 carries for 39 yards and was the second-leading receiver with three catches for 52 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown.
 
"I thought Sam Scott played pretty well the other night," Sawvel said. "He's got to be a big factor in what we do."
 
"They're all on board with owning this and we've got to get better," Sawvel said. "Right now, there's a lot of things as coaches we've got to look at and really define what we can be good at and how we can do this and how we can flip this script."
 
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