LARAMIE – Jett Vincent is an eight-man high school football legend, a hard-hitting Mountain West safety with an affinity for the Bronze Boot and an aspiring country music artist.
 
Vincent is the perfect fit for Wyoming, even though the Grinnell, Kan., product started his career at Colorado State.
 
Following the Cowboys' spring practice on Thursday night in the Indoor Practice Facility, the 6-foot-2, 204-pound junior was asked if it was strange wearing the brown and gold after spending three years with the rival Rams.
 
"Nah, it feels like home, man. I like these colors," Vincent said. "I grew up in Western Kansas, and I've got some cowboys in the family. My dad was a cowboy back in high school. I'm wearing my favorite number and feeling blessed."
 
Vincent, who wears No. 4, was a key portal addition for head coach Jay Sawvel. At CSU he redshirted in 2023, played mostly on special teams in 2024 and was moved to linebacker in 2025.
 
"He was playing out of position at linebacker a little bit for them, but he had good video from the year before at safety, too," Sawvel said. "When Jett took his visit, you really got a good feel right away that he was a good fit. He was a good fit for the place, he was a good fit for what we wanted, program-wise. That's the biggest piece of it."
 
Vincent has been an early standout in the spring during a heated competition at the safety positions. Returning starter Jones Thomas is also emerging as a leader of a group that includes talented young players like sophomore Brooklyn Cheek and redshirt freshman Kaiden Kimble-Turner.
 
"I think this is what I was built for," Vincent said of moving back to safety at UW. "When you talk about my height, size, physicality, smartness, speed and athletic ability, I think I was out of position quite a bit last year. On the bright side I learned a lot when it comes to run fits, so I feel I can definitely be a dual-threat safety coming down and hitting where I'm supposed to fit up and also playing pass coverage."
 
During his high school career at Canton-Galva, Vincent set a Kansas state record for all classes with 36 career interceptions.
 
Vincent made a play on a deep ball thrown to tight end Jacob Wilson at the last second to break up a would-be long completion. His size gives the Pokes another strong presence in the middle of the defense behind defensive tackle Jayden Williams (6-3, 296) and middle linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz (6-4, 239).
 
Next Friday (April 10), Vincent will be playing his country-folk music at Laramie Elks Lodge No. 582. In five months, he will step into the Border War spotlight hoping to etch his name in the rivalry's lore when UW opens the season at CSU.

"I don't know any better way to say it other than God opened the door and I'm excited," Vincent said. "Talk about when it comes to fueling the fire, I don't think there's any better fuel source than knowing that your first game opening the year on Sept. 5 you're going to be down there back where you spent the prior three years, playing against people you know, coaches you know and with a new group of guys that are full of character, heart and work ethic.
 
"I'm ready to ride with these boys for sure."
 
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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