Tyce Westland making the most of his opportunities at UW

Nov. 9—LARAMIE — Tyce Westland had nothing but green turf in front of him after scooping up the first fumble recovery of his University of Wyoming career last weekend against Colorado State.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound defensive end was in the right spot at the right time after CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi couldn't handle an errant snap on a crucial fourth-quarter drive.

After the ball deflected off the quarterback's face mask, Westland grabbed the ball and returned it 61 yards, with a pair of blockers in his convoy.

Fellow defensive end DeVonne Harris celebrated a bit prematurely, allowing CSU wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons to chase Westland down and tackle him at the Rams' 2-yard line.

"We've both (given each other grief) back and forth," Westland said with a laugh. "(Harris) should have blocked him, and I should have dove."

The Cowboys ended up turning the ball over on downs after a goal-line stand by the Rams. UW was able to come away with the 25-14 win after a defensive stop, a momentum swing that allowed a collective sigh of relief from the Cowboys' bench.

"We were bringing the cornerback, and I'll tell you what (the quarterback) saw: He saw a lot of pressure coming," defensive end coach Brian Hendricks said. "It was loud, so the snap didn't work out too well for them. The ball kind of got kicked around, and Tyce was coming free. So, fortunately, he was in good enough position to scoop that ball.

"You have to give a lot of credit to the young man that chased him down. I think we should have blocked him. I don't give Tyce any grief for that. I think that was more on DeVonne Harris for not blocking for him."

Westland is a sophomore in his third season at UW, and the fumble recovery was his biggest play as a Cowboy since joining the program out of Pleasanton, Nebraska. While in hindsight he would have done a thing or two differently to get into the end zone, the play reassured him he is capable of competing on the big stage at War Memorial Stadium.

"It meant a lot to me," Westland said Monday. "I'm not getting a lot of snaps, but I'm still just trying to make everything I can of them. Just having that opportunity present itself to me, I wish I would have been able to capitalize on it (with a touchdown), but it was still great."

Gaining confidence

Westland did it all at Pleasanton High, playing linebacker, wide receiver, running back and quarterback at different times throughout his career. His dream of playing Division I football started early in youth football, and that dream always centered around eventually coming to Laramie.

"It started off back in fifth grade," Westland said. "We took a family vacation up to Yellowstone. We stopped here at (War Memorial Stadium) and walked around on campus, and I just kind of fell in love with it.

"Later on down the road, probably in the summer after my junior year, Wyoming called me and offered me. I think the day after that, I committed. So, pretty easy decision. I just always loved Wyoming."

Westland committed to UW knowing a position change was in store. Bohl and his staff were upfront that he would likely make the transition to playing defensive line in college, a challenge Westland has embraced since arriving on campus.

"They said that they had their tight end spots filled, and they thought I would best fit at D-end," Westland said. "I love defense, so it was a pretty easy (decision). ... My senior year, I played maybe, like, two games with a couple snaps at D-line.

"Coming up here was really my first time playing D-end. I had a lot to learn. (My teammates) helped me a ton just with learning little tips and tricks to use. Also Hendricks, he's helped me a bunch, just teaching me. He's a great coach. (Defensive end Sabastian Harsh), too, just coming in with him above me, he's helped a lot."

Hendricks is in his first season coaching the defensive ends at his alma mater. The former Cowboys linebacker has been impressed with Westland's determination to improve every day in practice, despite not seeing a ton of reps on game day.

"Confidence," Hendricks said about Westland's biggest area of improvement. "A lot of confidence. You have to go through a lot of reps and repetitions to gain that experience and that confidence, and he's done a great job in his weeks of preparation in practice, which then allows the trust (to build) to be able to put him in.

"Especially late in games, (the fumble recovery) was a critical situation and a crucial time in the game. ... When he has gotten his opportunities, he's done a really good job this year. That's very promising to see."

Gaining his coaches' trust has been Westland's biggest source of fuel this fall. Scooping up a loose fumble in a big moment of a rivalry game has provided Westland with plenty of positive momentum moving forward.

"I hope that showed (the coaches) that I'm ready and that I can do anything that they tell me to do," Westland said. "I just hope they keep giving me more opportunities so I'm able to do that."

Valuable experience

UW's defensive line is one of the team's most mature and experienced groups. While Westland had already earned the respect from his older teammates, the fumble recovery solidified his place as a playmaker on the Cowboys' defense.

"I looked up, and Tyce was running with the ball," starting linebacker Easton Gibbs said with a laugh. "It was something I thought I'd never see. I was glad he did. He was looking over his shoulder a little bit too much. He's just got to focus on going straight."

Added starting left tackle Frank Crum: "His roommate, Caden Barnett, we look at each other and go, 'Is that Tyce?' at the same time. We wanted to see him score, and we obviously got stuffed after that, but man, that was special for that kid. Really happy for Tyce."

The Cowboys constantly rotate defensive linemen to keep the unit fresh, especially on longer drives. Westland has proven to be a valuable depth piece, totaling eight tackles on the season and forcing a fumble during a September win over New Mexico.

"At every level at every program, it's super important (to have depth)," Hendricks said. "Especially when it comes to the front, the ends and the interior, it's super important. You can have one star player, but if there isn't anyone behind him, you're not going to have a whole lot of success as a program.

"Fortunately, we've been able to build some confidence in some young men. Depth has been built. It's fun to watch. We're not where we need to be, but it's fun to watch the progress."

Westland's big play against the Rams also earned some praise from UW coach Craig Bohl.

"We've been looking for a fourth defensive end," he said. "Tyce coming up with that play was certainly great. Now, I'm lamenting a little bit that we didn't stick it in, but we've addressed that with our football team that we have to finish those drives like that, but it was a big-time play because it flipped the field over."

Keeping the momentum

UW's defensive line had lofty expectations going into the season, but has struggled to get to the opposing quarterback consistently. The Cowboys are ranked ninth in the MW at 1.67 sacks per game, with 15 sacks for 107 yards in nine games.

Going into the final three regular-season games, Hendricks wants to see Westland and the rest of the defensive ends put pressure on the quarterback to create more turnovers and negative plays.

"It's extremely (important to create pressure)," Hendricks said. "It's important every week. We're going to do our best to put our guys in position to make plays, whether it's pressures, a three-man rush or a four-man rush.

"... You can't just turn around and point your finger and tell those (defensive backs) and linebackers to cover. ... We have to make sure, whoever's rushing is upholding their part of the deal. If not getting a sack, causing hurries and getting the quarterback off his platform and off his spot and forcing him into difficult throws like we saw (against CSU)."

Westland went into the season wanting to make the most out of his opportunities on the field. The Cowboys' defense forced three turnovers against the Rams, leading to UW's seventh time hoisting the Bronze Boot in the past eight seasons.

Westland has been on the winning side of the Border War all three years he's been in Laramie, and being able to make a difference in this year's game makes the memory that much more special. Thinking back to his first visit to Laramie as a fifth-grader, winning a game like the Border War is what playing at UW is all about.

"It's the best feeling in the world," Westland said. "We just beat CSU. I don't think there's much better than that. ... It's my third year here, so it's meaning more and more every year.

"The guys before me, it means a lot to them. It's got to mean a lot to you if you want to play at Wyoming."

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.