Cowboys add 11 on 1st day of regular signing period
Feb. 7—LARAMIE — The University of Wyoming football team bolstered its recruiting class with the addition of 11 student-athletes on the first day of the regular signing period Wednesday morning.
Out of the 11 new additions, six are transfers, and five will join the Cowboys out of high school. The class includes six offensive players and five on the defensive end.
The 11 signees brings UW's recruiting class to a total of 38 players after 27 signed with the Cowboys during the early signing period in December. The class is the first under new head coach Jay Sawvel, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Craig Bohl's retirement after the Arizona Bowl.
"We had 41 official visits, and 32 of those people are now going to be on our team," Sawvel said during Wednesday's news conference. "That's 78%. ... I think that's just a tribute to everything that's in place, between the facilities, the way the campus looks and the environment around it, the momentum that we've got and the team.
"We're blessed. I just think really highly of the class, and I'm really excited for all those guys to come in."
Transfers
The Cowboys added four transfers from the Football Bowl Subdivision level, including running back D.J. Jones (North Carolina), wide receiver Tyler King (Texas Tech), safety Garrett McGriff (Army) and tight end Clay Nance (Colorado State).
UW also added linebacker Evan Eller from the Football Championship Subdivision level (Virginia Military Institute) and wide receiver Jaylan Bean from Garden City Community College in Kansas. Eller, Jones and King are all on scholarship, while Bean, McGriff and Nanke are preferred walk-ons.
King comes to Laramie as a redshirt sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining. He caught just one pass in his career at Texas Tech, but was rated a four-star recruit out of high school by ESPN.
"He is fast," UW recruiting director Gordie Haug said. "He's coming from Texas Tech, but he was a (10.2-second runner in the 100-meter dash) in high school. So, he has extreme speed."
Jones played four seasons at North Carolina and comes to UW as a graduate transfer. He spent his first three years with the Tar Heels at running back before moving to defensive back last fall. He'll return to the backfield for the Cowboys this season.
"He's a major team guy," Haug said. "That's one thing that D.J. brings value in: He can do a lot of different things for us, and he's going to add some depth to that running back room, which we need."
Eller was No. 16 at the FCS level in total tackles with 106 last season at VMI. He comes to UW as a graduate transfer after totaling 235 tackles in 40 career games.
"He's a tackling machine, and he does a lot of good things," Haug said. "He's been working, and he's a great-looking kid. He really fits into our team, and has high character and a great family. He has one year left to come help the Pokes."
Bean joins the Cowboys after hauling in 20 catches for 230 yards as a freshman for Garden City last season. He comes to Laramie as a sophomore, and is listed at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds.
"He's a big, long receiver that has the frame and the athletic ability to really develop for us," Haug said. "We're really excited about him."
Nanke was recruited by UW in high school before committing to Colorado State. He appeared in two games for the Rams last season, but didn't record any statistics.
"He's a big, long dude," Haug said. "He's a 6-6, 240-pound guy that's going to add some depth, especially in that tight end room. We're really excited about him and how he's coming around right now."
McGriff spent one season at Army and was a rated a three-star recruit by 247sports.com coming out of high school. He joins the Cowboys as a freshman.
"We're going to play him in the defensive backfield somewhere," Haug said. "He's a good kid that shows some depth and can do some things there."
High schoolers
Out of the five high schoolers to sign with the Cowboys this week, three are on scholarship, and two are preferred walk-ons.
The scholarship players include cornerback Markie Grant, running back Nico Hamilton and safety David Leonard. Offensive linemen Caleb Hall and Spencer Rathbun both come to Laramie as preferred walk-ons.
Grant was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and is the No. 171 overall recruit out of the state of Texas. In his senior season, Grant tallied three interceptions, 18 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to go along with 56 total tackles.
"He's a dynamic, dynamic corner," Haug said. "He was No. 1 on the board since the beginning of recruiting. To be able to get him was a huge part of diligent recruiting. He's going to be a guy that's pretty special."
Hamilton ran for more than 1,200 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry as a senior at Lake Travis High in Austin, Texas, last season. He totaled 3,345 yards and 29 touchdowns throughout his high school career.
"Nico was a really good football player," Haug said. "He's a three-year, 1,000-yard rusher. He did that this year only playing eight games. ... He's a do-it-all back."
Leonard played both quarterback and safety in high school at St. Mary's in St. Louis, Missouri. He threw for more than 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns while totaling 45 tackles and an interception on defense as a senior.
Rathbun is the son of former Cowboy Rob Rathbun, who played for UW in the 1990s. Spencer was a second team all-state selection out of Rock Canyon High in Denver.
Hall was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com out of Jesuit High in Carmichael, California. He was also recruited by Nevada and San Diego.
"He has all the frame to be able to develop, and the athleticism that he has is unbelievable," Haug said. "He's going to be a guy to watch as he develops. ... I can see this guy taking over a starting spot and doing some really good things."
Spring ball
Sawvel announced a handful of notable dates for UW's football schedule this spring. The Cowboys will kick off the spring portion of the season March 26, capping the segment with the annual spring game April 27.
The spring game will take place in Cheyenne due to the renovation project at War Memorial Stadium.
Sawvel will open two spring practices to the public in his first year as head coach. Those dates will be April 6 and April 13.
Sandwiched between spring practices, UW will host its NFL pro day March 19 in Laramie.
Alex Taylor is the assistant editor for WyoSports and covers University of Wyoming athletics. He can be reached at ataylor@wyosports.net. Follow him on X at @alex_m_taylor22.
