LARAMIE – The Pokes and the Bronze Boot will be heading to Fort Collins in two weeks.
 
Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel's script for this critical week of fall camp simulated a game week.
 
The schedule included a physical "Bloody Tuesday" practice in the rain Tuesday and will conclude with the second and final major scrimmage of camp set for 4 p.m. Saturday in War Memorial Stadium.
 
That's the same kickoff time for the Cowboys' opener at Colorado State on Sept. 5 in Canvas Stadium.
 
"I like where the team's at," Sawvel said. "We've had some progress this week, which is good. Saturday will be huge for a number of players, a number of positions, and then continue evaluation from there."
 
My three camp stars (so far)
 
1. Ethan Stuhlsatz
 
The 6-foot-4, 237-pound senior has a chance to be the next middle linebacker to dominate for the Cowboys and then play in the NFL.
 
"The biggest thing about Ethan is he's like a model of what development looked like," Sawvel said of Stuhlsatz, who backed up Brayden Johnson last season following his transfer from Lindenwood. "Coming from where he did to where he's at now in year two here."
 
Stuhlsatz has improved his communication skills and mastered Aaron Bohl's defense. He has elite sideline-to-sideline speed, ideal size and running backs simply can't block him when he charges through the middle of the line toward the quarterback.
 
Sawvel has been impressed enough with Stuhlsatz and weakside linebacker Gary Rutherford to pencil them in as the starters for the Border War.
 
Dash Bauman is in position to rotate behind Stuhlsatz with Parker Moore and Steven Perez battling for the backup spot behind Rutherford.
 
On the 2026 UW defense, Stuhlsatz is the straw that stirs the drink and a potential first-team all-Mountain West selection.
 
"This is a big, big year for him," Sawvel said. "You look at measurables for a player at the NFL level, there's a lot of good football players that don't meet NFL measurables. Ethan Stuhlsatz does. Ethan Stuhlsatz will test very well. He's 6'4 plus, he's still almost 240 pounds. He can run, he can jump, he's the best athlete at linebacker we've had since I've been here. He's kind of in a class of his own athletically. Now he's got to play it, right?"
 
2. Tyler Hughes
 
The William & Mary transfer has been as good as advertised executing new offensive coordinator Christian Taylor's playbook. Hughes, a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, is clearly one of the leaders on this team, even though he has only been on campus since January.
 
Hughes' accuracy and explosive running are a major upgrade from what UW had at the position in the past two seasons. Andrew Peasley led the Pokes to nine wins in 2023, but Hughes' knack for making spectacular plays under pressure and in scramble mode provide glimpses of the kind of electricity Josh Allen brought to Laramie.
 
"Tyler Hughes is a huge culture addition to this program," Sawvel said. "He loves every second about playing at Wyoming. He weighs 20 more pounds than he did a year ago playing at William & Mary and he'll just tell you, 'I never had these (resources) at William & Mary.'"
 
Now listed at 6-foot, 214 pounds, Hughes is ready to infuse life into the Pokes' offense as he did last season for William & Mary when he passed for 2,330 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions and rushed for 670 yards and 11 touchdowns.
 
Sawvel and Taylor haven't anointed Hughes as the starter yet because Landon Sims and Mason Drube are also showing well during camp.
 
The future at quarterback is in good hands, but the room is in good shape for 2026 with Hughes leading the way.
 
3. Esaia Bogar
 
The 6-2, 255-pound senior has been a consistent problem for the tackles and tight ends trying to block him.
 
Defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks' group has been a bright spot with Jack Dunkley and Donnie Wingate also firing off the edge with bad intentions. Thaddeus Gianaris and Kevin Sjogren add to the rotational depth. Redshirt freshman Cade Brook and true freshman Beck Haswell could be future stars in the program.
 
But Bogar has been the best of the bunch and is poised for a productive season making opposing quarterbacks' lives miserable.
 
Three battles I'll be focused on Saturday
 
1. Cornerback
 
One of the more interesting practice periods this week was designed to test the cornerbacks on deep throws down the field.
 
The talented but inexperienced unit did well in preventing the explosive plays from being completed.
 
Sophomore Tyson Shamsid-Deen and freshmen Kendall Griffin and Therman Williams will be in the rotation and are competing to start against CSU. Junior Ian Bell has been making a recent push.
 
Sawvel noted this will be a "big Saturday" for junior Logan Mackey and sophomore David Leonard to make strong closing arguments before the Week 1 depth chart is finalized.
 
"We're not going to let anybody get comfortable with that position," Sawvel said. "We're in a far better place. Now we got to play it."
 
2. Left guard
 
Throughout camp, UW's first-string offensive line has been pretty consistent with Rex Johnsen (left tackle), Josiah Petaia (left guard), Jason Maciejczak (center), Giovanni Panozzo (right guard) and Braylon Jenkins (right tackle) trotting out of the huddle in front of Hughes.
 
Chandler Donoway, who had an impressive spring at left guard, has returned after dealing with a personal issue. It will be interesting to see how quickly the 6-1, 305-pound mauler can get back in the swing of things to challenge Petaia or be part of a rotation.
 
Redshirt freshman Kalvin Janssen has also stood out at times at left guard.
 
Sawvel wants to have at least eight game-ready offensive linemen entering the season. Jonathan Bush, Caleb Hall and Quinn Grovesteen-Matchey are among a list of players who could help O-line coach Joe Tripodi sleep easier with strong performances in the scrimmage.
 
3. Wide receiver
 
Jovon Bouknight looks like he could still suit up for the Border War. The UW Athletics Hall of Famer can only impart his wisdom on the next generation.
 
The Cowboys' wide receivers coach described Eric Richardson as "a stud" and Justin Popovich as a "throwback" this week. The seniors have established themselves at the top of the pecking order with their body of work since the spring.
 
Two other veteran targets, Jackson Holman and Charlie Coenen, will be utilized by Taylor.
 
The scrimmage will be an opportunity for several players with game-changing talent – Deion DeBlanc, Ke'Lyn Washom, Jayden Williams – to state their case for being part of the Border War game plan.
 
"That position right now, that's the one that's still muddled and up in the air," Sawvel said.
 
Four position groups I feel good about
 
1. Running back
 
Samuel "Tote" Harris has the speed to score from anywhere on the field and the power to run through tackles.
 
UW has some other tailbacks ready to tote the rock, led by 214-pound Markell Holman and 210-pound Nico Hamilton. Redshirt freshman Jaden Lawrence has been standing out in recent practices and at some point this season, Diore Hubbard, West Virgina's leading rusher in 2025, will join the competition for carries.
 
2. Defensive tackle
 
The Pokes almost ran out of bodies on the interior of the defensive line last season. Now defensive tackles coach Deonte Gibson has an impressive group headlined by Jayden Williams (6-3, 294), Dante Drake (6-3, 296) and Caleb Robinson (6-2, 298).
 
The depth behind the big three is solid with Murray State transfer Ja'Quan Redfern, in-state standouts Tegen Seeds (Douglas) and Alex Haswell (Sheridan) and freshman Tanielu Maafala-Barbasa vying for snaps.
 
3. Nickel/safety
 
Desman Hearns is an outstanding nickel and one of the top returners at any position from last year's team, but he is being challenged this camp by Travis Franklin Jr.
 
Jones Thomas and Brooklyn Cheek give the Cowboys a lively duo missing since the Wyett Ekeler-Isaac White safety combination from the nine-win 2023 squad.
 
There isn't a noticeable drop-off when Jett Vincent and Jaden DaCosta are on the field, and there are other viable candidates beyond them.
 
The depth at safety and linebacker should also improve UW's special teams units this fall.
 
4. Tight end
 
What this room lacks in experience they make up for with size and speed in Taylor's tight-end-friendly scheme.
 
Jacob Wilson bounced back from absorbing a painful hit in last Saturday's scrimmage with a one-handed touchdown to highlight Wednesday's practice.
 
Sophomore Kyle Frendt and redshirt freshman Landon Pace are also tough for linebackers to cover. Isaac Schoenfeld and Tyler Siddons add some pop to the run game with their physicality.
 
Potentially the best storyline in this year's Border War? Fort Collins native Gage Brook, who moved from quarterback in the spring, is a scoring threat every time UW gets into the red zone.
 
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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