LARAMIE – Jay Sawvel has revamped the backup plan for the back end of Wyoming's defense.
 
A year ago, the first-time head coach felt confident in the Cowboys' starting safeties. However, the defense faltered when both Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White missed significant time due to injuries.
 
The steady senior duo played almost every snap together over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, finishing their careers with a combined 93 games played, 413 tackles, 34 passes defended and six interceptions.
 
Sawvel, who coached the safeties from 2020-23 before being elevated to head coach, doubled down on the depth at the position this offseason by adding Desman Hearns (Southern Illinois), Justin Taylor (Wisconsin), Jaden DaCosta (Portland State) and Brooklyn Cheek (Cal) via the transfer portal.
 
All four newcomers performed well during spring practice.
 
"I think communication is key for sure," Cheek, who had an interception in the spring game, said of getting the secondary on the same page. "We've gotten really good at communicating throughout this whole thing. We have a bond. Safeties and corners are not in the same room when we're at meetings but all the DB's are one. We're all talking and we're good."
 
Jason Petrino, who returned to UW as the safeties coach last season, has been busy getting the newcomers up to speed and developing redshirt freshmen David Leonard and Bleyne Bryant and sophomore Jones Thomas.
 
"From the first day I got here Coach (Petrino) told me I'm going to have to compete if I want to play early," Hearns said. "I love the culture here. I can tell they have a chip on their shoulders from last year from what happened. I enjoy the culture here, it's very competitive."
 
Andrew Johnson is competing for a starting spot and leading the room. The athletic senior from Cheyenne had 30 tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hit last season mostly subbing in for White at strong safety.
 
"I can put it blunt: We weren't good enough last year at the safety positions," Johnson said. "We were not. With injuries, without injuries, we were not where we needed to be and we're going to be a lot better than that this year."
 
Malique Singleton returns at nickel back after getting thrown in for critical snaps last season. DeCosta, Hearns, Taylor, Singleton and Johnson are also capable of playing the position.
 
At cornerback, the Pokes will be leaning on talented young players to step into the spotlight this fall.
 
Redshirt freshmen Markie Grant and Tyrese Boss and true freshman Tyson Deen are all in the mix to be on the field when UW opens the season Aug. 28 at Akron.
 
"At corner you see a young group with some depth, which is good," defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl said. "But they've got to grow up fast."
 
Ian Bell, a promising junior who has been hampered by injuries early in his career, and Snow College transfer BJ Inmon add experience to the competition.
 
Caleb Merritt is also ready to battle for time in the rotation after making the move to cornerback from wide receiver in the middle of last season. Laramie senior Isaac Sell, who also switched positions from wide receiver in 2024, adds depth.
 
Sawvel is expecting to sign another defensive back to join the team before summer workouts commence May 26.
 
"I think we got some capabilities to be good," Sawvel said. "We have a lot of work to do, and we have some development to do, but there's no weeping or gnashing of teeth."
 
(Editor's note: This is the third in an eight-part series reviewing UW's position groups. Monday's review: Offensive line).
 
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