LARAMIE – Stacking quality high school recruiting classes is still the way forward for Wyoming.
 
UW head coach Jay Sawvel, who announced the signing of 20 prospects from 11 different states to the 2026 class on Wednesday, believes the group will follow in the footsteps of last year's freshmen already making an impact on the program.
 
Six true freshmen – quarterback Mason Drube, wide receiver Deion DeBlanc, running back Samuel "Tote" Harris, cornerback Tyson Shamsid-Deen and tight end Kyle Frendt – played significant snaps for the Cowboys in 2025 with three other members of the class getting on the field.
 
At least four incoming freshmen plan to enroll early for spring practice to accelerate their development.
 
"I think it augments the class that we signed last year very well, which we obviously have a high regard for the freshmen we brought in a year ago," Sawvel said. "The biggest thing about this class is there's a physicality to all of the positions and that's much needed right now. I'm talking even (on) the perimeter with the two receivers that we signed."
 
Sawvel made it clear after a disappointing 4-8 season concluded with a loss at Hawaii last Saturday night in Honolulu that there will be a major "reset" on offense in 2026.
 
The Cowboys have added a quarterback with a strong bloodline at the position in Taylor Hasselbeck, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect from Nashville, Tenn., whose father Tim Hasselbeck and uncle Matt Hasselbeck were longtime NFL quarterbacks.
 
Despite a change in offensive coordinator – wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight took over the duties after the Air Force game and Sawvel plans to hire a new play-caller in the coming weeks – the Hasselbeck family never wavered on Taylor's commitment to UW.
 
"Taylor did an excellent job recruiting other players in this class," Sawvel said. "When you have a quarterback commit and you make an offensive coordinator change during the season there has to be a high level of trust not only from the player but also the family that as the head coach, I'm going to get that part right. They've been involved in the loop as far as everything that's going on every step of the way.
 
"I really appreciate Taylor and what he does and what he will be as a Cowboy."
 
Drube played extensive snaps at Hawaii, finishing the finale with 179 yards passing and 15 yards rushing. The touted QB prospect from Gillette retained his redshirt and still has four years of eligibility remaining.
 
"It will help so much. I learned so much just from (Saturday)," Drube said. "Going out there and playing ball is all it was. You get juiced up out there in those big moments and stuff is flying. You've got to get the game slowed down and ready to go."
 
Both of the wide receivers in the class, Jarell Gary (5-11, 195) of Round Rock, Texas, and Jordan Styles (6-0, 185) of The Woodlands, Texas, are big, physical players who understand the importance of blocking.
 
The Pokes also landed running back Ryken Banks of Parker, Colo., tight ends Colin Ford of Naperville, Ill., and Ishmael Muhammad of Dallas and offensive linemen Pierce Decker of Fort Collins, Jonathan Pearcy of Liberty, Mo., and Grant Lott of St. Peter's, Mo.
 
Sawvel plans to add another quarterback, running back, tight end, two offensive linemen and two or three wide receivers from the transfer portal in January as part of the overhaul.
 
Bouknight will remain on the staff as wide receivers coach.
 
"A year ago, we did the rebuild on defense," Sawvel said after the Hawaii game. "For the most part we did pretty well. Offensively, we've got to have a remake on some things, we've got to add a lot of pieces."
 
The coaching staff is confident most of the key players from this year's defense will be retained. Sawvel said finding two defensive ends and two more defensive backs from the portal will be necessary due to the graduation of key seniors at those positions.
 
A total of 10 incoming freshmen were signed on defense Wednesday – four defensive linemen, three linebackers and three defensive backs.
 
Sawvel said Xavier Jackson, a 6-2, 295-pound defensive tackle from O'Fallon, Mo., has "a body that will be ready sooner" than most players at the critical developmental position.
 
The Pokes are solid at linebacker with the return of Ethan Stuhlsatz, Gary Rutherford and some other talented young players, but the future is bright with the addition of legacy recruit Dante Bruley of Chandler, Ariz., Boston Gable of Gering, Neb., and Mason Wright of Parkville, Mo.
 
"I think this is the fastest group of linebackers we've recruited since I've been here," said Sawvel, who joined Craig Bohl's staff as defensive coordinator in 2020.
 
Therman Williams, a safety from Riverside, Calif., is a top-100 recruit from the talent-rich Golden State. Cornerbacks Kanye Anderson and Kendall Griffin add depth to a promising returning group that includes Tyrese Boss, Markie Grant and Shamsid-Deen.
 
UW signed two homegrown prep standouts in Sheridan defensive end Beck Haswell and Cheyenne Central offensive lineman Jackson Garrett. The duo are three-star prospects and the top two recruits from the state according to 247Sports.
 
"There's a plan," Sawvel said of fortifying the 2026 roster and dramatically improving the offense. "We've got to go get this done."
 
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