LARAMIE – The sun was out and the pads were on as Wyoming concluded the first week of spring practice with a two-hour, 15-minute practice on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.
 
Jay Sawvel didn't have any complaints, beyond wanting to get the work in 120 minutes.
 
"We've got to up our pace, up our tempo," UW's head coach said. "That happens when there's a lot of install going on."
 
Here are three takeaways from Week 1 ahead of the Cowboys' fourth spring practice set for Tuesday:
 
A 'professional' approach on offense
 
New offensive coordinator Christian Taylor is implementing his versatile scheme influenced watching Josh Allen the last two years while serving as a Buffalo Bills assistant.
 
UW's quarterbacks will be dual threats, which includes some option looks. Tight ends will be important pieces of the puzzle lining up at various spots on the field. There is an emphasis of getting talented skill players like slot receiver Deion DeBlanc and running back Samuel Harris the football in space.
 
And perhaps the best competition on the roster is along the offensive line.
 
"He's the truth, man. I love Coach T," Harris said of Taylor. "The way he operates and the way he speaks, his language, is very advanced. He came from the Buffalo Bills and in general he's getting us ready for the next level in terms of the NFL.
 
"It's a big jump from the offense we ran last year. The language, you have to be more into the book, you have to study more and he's just getting us prepared. I appreciate Coach T for that."
 
Sawvel noted that after last Tuesday's practice he poked his head into the offensive meeting room at the High Altitude Performance Center and there were 13 players in their studying film of the session on their own.
 
During a media scrum last Thursday, wide receiver Eric Richardson used the word "professional" three times while describing the offensive approach and scheme.
 
Taylor said the offense his is ahead schedule at this point, but the work is just beginning.
 
"Probably everyone in America has a good one, two and three practices. Our goal is to have 15 good practices," Taylor said. "We just have to bring the same energy on a daily basis, but I'm really impressed and pleased with where we're at. Not satisfied."
 
Sawvel's best defense?
 
Craig Bohl hired Sawvel as UW's defensive coordinator before the 2020 season. Over the past six years the Cowboys have fielded some stout units featuring great players like All-American linebacker Chad Muma.
 
In 2025, the defense ranked 30^th in the FBS in points allowed (20.5 ppg) and 45^th in yards allowed (344.3 ypg) without a lot of help from the offense.
 
Sawvel is so bullish on this year's group that he said it could become the best defense in his time in the program.
 
"I think when you look out on the field defensively at the bodies you're like, OK, we have a chance," Sawvel said. "That's a big thing."
 
Defensive tackle Jayden Williams (6-3, 296), middle linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz (6-4, 239), nickel back Desman Hearns (6-3, 193) and safeties Jones Thomas (6-2, 202), Brooklyn Cheek (6-1, 204) and Jett Vincent (6-2, 204) made strong first spring impressions after making gains in Eric Donoval's winter strength and conditioning program.
 
"There's a lot of stuff to be excited about," defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl said. "The best motivating factor is competition. I can hoot and holler all I want but if I say you're on the bench, next guy is in, they'll play better. That is always going to be our goal to build that (depth). The years we have not had that in the past, and it hurt us a couple of years ago, that's our fault. Our job is to bring in as many good players as we possibly can and let them battle it out."
 
Cornerback is a key battle to keep an eye on. Sawvel is excited about the talent but concerned about the lack of experience at the position.
 
The competition on the defensive line will be ratcheted up when defensive ends Jack Dunkley and Donnie Wingate are healthy, which could be this week. Defensive tackles Dante Drake and Caleb Robinson are being limited to individual drills as they make their back from injuries that kept them out for the 2025 season.
 
"Last year they set the bar high for us," Stuhlsatz said of the defense that was led by nose tackle Ben Florentine and linebacker Evan Eller. "We've got to look at that as average and we've got to be better. We want to be better at stopping the run and work off that."
 
Tyler Hughes turning heads
 
Senior quarterback Tyler Hughes is already making explosive plays passing and running the ball, which is the reason Sawvel targeted the William & Mary graduate transfer in the portal.
 
Hughes' leadership has been even more impressive.
 
"Tyler got here before I did and obviously knew the offense pretty well," said Taylor, who recruited Hughes to William & Mary. "Granted, we've tweaked and adjusted some things, so he was able to help start an install of the offense with the guys. In the offseason coaches are pretty limited to what we can do with the guys, so he was able to guide and direct a lot of the voluntary player led offseason things."
 
Hughes watches film before practice and organizes the post-practice film sessions with teammates.
 
Bohl's defense is also learning a lot this spring by trying to defend Hughes in Taylor's unpredictable offense.
 
"It's going to be a love/hate relationship in practice because we all have to chase (Hughes) and we all have to run to the ball," Stuhlsatz said. "That's just going to make us better, especially when we play dual threat quarterbacks. Iron sharpens iron. I'm really excited with Coach Taylor and seeing where we're going to go with that."
 
Sawvel said there are times when Hughes is the fastest player on the field. Harris said that is not the case when he's also in the backfield, but having a dynamic quarterback will make life easier for "Tote" in the running game.
 
"The way he can utilize his legs, he runs 22 mph, so he can roll and that just opens up everything offensively," Harris said of Hughes' impact. "Tyler is my guy. Big weapon."
 
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.
 
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