LARAMIE – The most valuable player for Wyoming this spring is arguably Tegen Seeds.
 
The sophomore from Douglas has certainly been the busiest Cowboy through 13 practices due to injuries at the defensive tackle position.
 
Cody Crawford, a junior from Casper, suffered a torn ACL this spring that will keep him out of the rotation indefinitely. Henry Rehberg is still rehabbing his torn ACL from last year.
 
Alex Haswell will miss the rest of the spring with a less series knee injury, but the Sheridan product will be ready for summer workouts. Newcomer Ja'Quan Redfern has been in and out the lineup.
 
UW head coach Jay Sawvel is holding Dante Drake and Caleb Robinson, who both missed the 2025 season with torn Achilles tendons, out of team periods as a precautionary measure.
 
Jayden Williams has been impressive throughout the spring but left a practice last week with back spasms. Freshman Tanielu Maafala-Barbasa was also sidelined for the session.
 
That left Seeds in the spotlight.
 
"We went down low on D-tackles (last) Tuesday, and it was just me," Seeds noted. "I've been in (the training room) every day getting ice on my shoulders, elbows, knees."
 
The 6-foot, 303-pound Seeds walked on at UW as an offensive lineman before making the position change to defensive tackle last spring.
 
When the injury bug hit the defensive tackle room late in the 2025 season, Seeds was inserted into the lineup and had an interception against San Diego State.
 
"Tegen can help us," Sawvel said. "He did a good job on PAT, field goal (protection) last year because he's kind of dense and he's hard to move. Against some of the more run heavy teams he's a big guy to try to move around in there. There's value that he can bring that way."
 
Seeds has now demonstrated consistent value as a dependable defensive tackle this spring, which he plans to parlay into more playing time in the fall, even when the Pokes are at full strength.
 
"It has been good because I need a lot of work. I'm still new being a D-tackle, I just got switched a year ago," Seeds said. "More and more reps is going to get me ready if I get some playing time this year."
 
UW defensive tackles coach Deonte Gibson describes Seeds and Crawford as "true Wyoming brawlers," adding that Haswell is well on his way to "earning his stripes" as an in-state recruit making a significant impact for the Cowboys.

As the football trope goes: the best ability is availability.
 
"A guy like Tegen busts his butt every day no matter what's wrong with him," Gibson said. "He's getting better with his technique. He proved last year when injuries came up that he could be a viable option to play games. I'm just excited to see him grow his game."
 
Seeds, who will be featured throughout the spring game starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at War Memorial Stadium, has felt the love from coaches and teammates while stepping up as the unflinching workhorse in the middle of the defensive line.
 
"Putting in this work has really proved to me that I can do a lot for this team," Seeds said. "I think I've got a lot of respect for that."
 
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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