LAS VEGAS – It's personal.
 
That has been the mantra inside the Wyoming football program since winter workouts began back in January.
 
The Cowboys understand outside expectations are low – UW was picked to finish 10^th in the Mountain West preseason media poll released Wednesday – but team leaders Jack Walsh and John Michael Gyllenborg believe this team is ready for redemption in 2025.
 
The senior duo end represented UW during the MW media day event at Circa Resort and Casino.
 
"Getting back to Cowboy tough ball," Gyllenborg said of the key to contending again after winning the Pokes won nine games in 2023 and three games in 2024. "Last year did not go the way we wanted. We all know that. We've closed the book on that."
 
UW begins a new chapter on Aug. 28 at Akron.
 
Second-year head coach Jay Sawvel immediately went to work on retaining a list of key players, including Gyllenborg and Walsh, in the hours after the 15-14 victory at Washington State last November.
 
Both offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl are back for their second seasons in the roles. Sawvel upgraded his staff by hiring 2024 UW Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Jovon Bouknight as wide receivers coach, Deonte Gibson (previously at Air Force) as defensive tackles coach and Gary Harrell (previously at Colorado) as running backs coach to upgrade the consistency and production from those position groups.
 
The offense returns quarterback Kaden Anderson, who played well down the stretch in 2024. The sophomore gunslinger has a variety of skill talent to work with, including wide receivers Jaylen Sargent and Chris Durr Jr. and running back Sam Scott.
 
Gyllenborg is one of the most talented tight ends in the country.
 
"I want to be known as a guy who played his best for the team, loved his teammates, was a leader by example and led the 2025 Cowboys, along with other guys, to a successful season," Gyllenborg said.
 
Nose tackle Ben Florentine, defensive tackles Dante Drake and Jayden Williams, defensive end Tyce Westland and safety Andrew Johnson lead a defense bolstered by young developing players and portal additions.
 
Three transfers from Power 4 programs, safeties Brooklyn Cheek (Cal) and Justin Taylor (Wisconsin) and wide receiver Jackson Holman (Arizona), made their presence felt immediately during spring practice.
 
Defensive end Brayden Wilson (Weber State), defensive tackle Aneesh Vyas (Bucknell), linebackers Enock Sibomana (North Dakota State), Brayden Johnson (Oklahoma Baptist) and Ethan Stuhlsatz (Lindenwood), cornerback (BJ Inmon) and safeties Jaden DeCosta (Portland State) and Desman Hearns (Southern Illinois) will all be competing for starting jobs when fall camp begins July 28.
 
Injuries up front and on the back end of Bohl's defense exposed a lack of depth last season.
 
"It was a tough pill to swallow," said Walsh, a preseason all-MW selection who will be UW's starting center and is among the nine offensive linemen returning from the two-deep. "We closed the door on last year. It was nothing that we wanted and we learned a lot from it.
 
"I had to regroup and understand we have to start from a ground zero level, work our way up to a good football team, put good football out there and we've got to do it together."
 
Walsh's dad, John, a member of UW's back-to-back WAC championship teams in 1987-88, flew from Chicago to Las Vegas to watch his son ride for the brand in the spotlight.
 
Getting the Pokes back on a winning track during the final season of the MW before rival Colorado State and four other programs leave for the Pac-12 is personal.
 
"That rich history that Wyoming football has is really special," Walsh said. "I was so fortunate and blessed they gave me an opportunity. I look at every day as finding a way to add to that history and creating a great legacy."
 
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. 
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.