LARAMIE – There was only one downside to Brayden Johnson's career at Wyoming.

It was too short.
 
"I wish he was here for a couple more years," head coach Jay Sawvel said last season as Johnson was thriving on the Cowboys' defense. "Everybody looks at him and knows that guy is going to grind every day and that guy cares deeply. All he wants to do is win."
 
Johnson, who transferred to UW for his senior season after playing at Division II Oklahoma Baptist, led the Pokes with 81 tackles and two interceptions in 2025.
 
Despite losing Johnson and Evan Eller at the linebacker positions, defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl has plenty of options to work with.
 
Ethan Stuhlsatz and Gary Rutherford are the next men up to potentially start. Dash Bauman, Parker Moore and Steven Perez have developed into potential contributors. Anthony Beavers and Karson Butts have transferred in to compete for playing time.
 
Defensive end is more of a question mark as UW begins the third week of spring practice.
 
Jack Dunkley could be the right answer when predicting the next impact player making the jump to FBS. The FCS transfer had 66 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 28 career games at Duquesne.
 
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound junior completed his first full practice with the Pokes on Saturday after being held back by an offseason injury. Sawvel described Dunkley as a player who like to "tear (expletive) up" on the field.
 
"With Jack, the character is on a high, high level," Sawvel said after noting that Dunkley's physicality stood out. "If you look at a guy who could be this year's Brayden Johnson-type guy, I think Jack would probably be one of the guys at the top of the list."
 
Defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks was thrilled to land Dunkley out of the portal in January.
 
"I think he's a home run as far as character and the work ethic he's going to provide," Hendricks said.
 
Dunkley's position coach watched with a smile as his spring got off to a humbling start on Saturday.
 
"I got thrown (by an offensive tackle) on my first play and Coach from the sideline is yelling, 'Welcome to Wyoming,'" Dunkley said. "This is awesome, this is what I wanted. Not getting thrown essentially, but I had a good time and it's good to be back out there."
 
Dunkley earned all-Northeast Football Conference honors last season after racking up 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.
 
The production is expected to translate to the Mountain West with help from Eric Donoval's strength and conditioning program. Dunkley finished last season at 240 pounds and currently weighs 250 pounds.
 
"It's all good weight. I went from 19 to 17 percent body fat and put on nine pounds of muscle mass in that weight gain in those two months of winter workouts that we've had so far," Dunkley said. "I feel great. This is the best condition I've ever been in in my life. I've just got to get into football shape now."
 
UW must replace graduated defensive ends Tyce Westland, Brayden Wilson and Chisom Ifeanyi.
 
Returners Esaia Bogar and Kevin Sjogren have stepped up this spring. Transfers Thaddeus Gianaris (Dartmouth) and Donnie Wingate (Southern Illinois) are also expected to bolster the rotation.
 
"I didn't have a great day (Saturday) in my eyes. I know there's room to work and there's room to get better, so I want that to lead up to week one. I want to dominate, that's essentially why I'm here," Dunkley said after his UW practice debut. "Coach Hendricks has given us all the tools we need. I'm excited to continue to work with him and create more pressure and be even more dominant on that side of the ball. We've got to set the line of scrimmage and we're working towards week one right now."
 
The Cowboys return to the field Tuesday for the seventh spring practice. The annual Brown & Gold Game open to the public is April 25 at War Memorial Stadium.
 
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.
 
Don't just watch the game — change it. The most powerful way to support University of Wyoming student-athletes is by joining the Cowboy Joe Club. Your membership fuels scholarships, provides essential resources, and helps Cowboys and Cowgirls succeed both in the classroom and in competition. Your gift is not just support — it's access. As a member, you'll enjoy exclusive benefits that bring you closer to the action than ever before. Be a champion. Join our team. Visit CowboyJoeClub.com or call 307-766-6242.