LARAMIE – It's a football language both men speak fluently.
 
Wyoming offensive coordinator Christian Taylor wears a headset during fall camp practices and quarterback Tyler Hughes has the green-dot helmet that allows him to hear Taylor's instructions.
 
"At William & Mary we did not have the headsets in practice where he could talk to me in my helmet, so that's different," Hughes said. "However, the communication, it's back like we never left. It's great to be here with him. He's a great coach."
 
Head coach Jay Sawvel hired Taylor in December and gave him carte blanche to reimagine a Cowboy attack that has struggled to score the past two seasons.
 
Taylor recruited Hughes out of high school and was his offensive coordinator at William & Mary before spending the past two seasons as an assistant with the Buffalo Bills.
 
As the only new offensive assistant, Taylor kept most of UW's existing terminology while adding some William & Mary "verbiage" Hughes already knows.
 
Redshirt freshman Mason Drube and junior Landon Sims, who have been sharing second-team reps through two days of fall camp, were both able to get up to speed with Taylor's playbook in the spring.
 
Taylor was disappointed with Thursday's practice, saying the offense became fatigued and lost its focus during a warm afternoon while Aaron Bohl's defense brought the energy and turned up the heat.
 
Even though the defense won the day, Sawvel was pleased with the chunk plays the offense can make.
 
"I like the space that we're in offensively, I like the fact that we've got some players that I think can be threats," Sawvel said. "Even today as things would rock along all right defensively, the next thing you know, the offense would have a rip of a play and that's something that we hadn't had. We've got players that can do that."
 
Samuel "Tote" Harris has the speed and vision to take any running play to the end zone. Tight ends Jake Wilson and Kyle Frendt can "do it all," according to Taylor.
 
Having dual-threat quarterbacks taking the snaps is a noticeable upgrade from last season when UW's starter finished with minus-39 yards rushing with a long scamper of nine yards.
 
"We've got some fun players, we've got some fun things that we do, and we're going to be a damn good offense," Hughes said. "Right now, where we stand, it's day two of camp, so we just have to keep improving every single day and showing up and being attentive. We're not a finished product, but there's a sense of urgency and when this season comes up, we'll be ready to go."
 
As a team, the Cowboys finished the 2025 season with 13 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. Harris, with only 100 carries as a true freshman, led the team in rushing with 558 net yards.
 
At the FCS level, Hughes passed for 2,330 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions and rushed for 670 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
 
Since arriving in January, the 6-foot Hughes has added 20 pounds of muscle through UW's strength and conditioning program.
 
"That's kind of the reason why I came here. I mean, Wyoming has everything that we need to be great football players," Hughes said. "We have great food, we have a great strength and conditioning staff, we have great coaches around us always taking care of us. …
 
"Even though I'm 20 pounds heavier, I'm faster and I feel better."
 
There is work to do along the offensive line, and a list of wide receivers will audition to be go-to targets over the next three weeks.
 
But when the Cowboys open the season Sept. 5 at Colorado State, every player on offense will be speaking Taylor's language.
 
"He wants you to be great. He wants everybody to be great," Hughes said. "Being developed by a guy like Christian Taylor, it's second to none, and I wouldn't pass it up for nothing."
 
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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