LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel may have added the No. 0 to the jersey rotations, threw names on the back and toyed with alternate uniforms, but one thing he won't change from the Craig Bohl era is the moniker: Development program.
High school recruiting is still very much a priority at Wyoming.
"We've had a good streak," Wyoming's head coach said. "We've had four commits in the last eight days, and we had two of them yesterday ... We're very excited about where that's at. I think our coaches have done a great job. Our recruiting staff has done a great job, and that's dating all the way back to last fall."
The proof is in the pudding.
Last fall, nine true freshmen saw action, including the team's leading rusher, Samuel "Tote" Harris, who rolled up 558 yards and a touchdown. He added 184 more in the passing game. Quarterback Mason Drube was also inserted into the lineup late in the season, appearing in three games and completing 20-of-38 throws for 187 yards.
Deion DeBlanc's 73-yard punt return for a touchdown sparked the Cowboys' 35-28 home victory over San Jose State. He also tacked on 90 receiving yards.
Cornerback Tyson Shamsid-Deen proved to be a steal out of the San Antonio area, playing 13 snaps on offense, another 28 on defense and 114 on special teams.
Tight end Kyle Frendt, along with linebackers Parker Moore and Steven Perez, joined offensive lineman Johnathan Bush and wideout PJ Jackson as the other rookies to make their debuts.
Only Harris, DeBlanc, Shamsid-Deen and Frendt "burned" their redshirt status, appearing in more than the NCAA-mandated four games.
Sawvel and Co. already have six true freshmen from last year's class on campus. That list includes: Grant Lott (OL), Therman "Boogie" Williams (S), Tanielu Maafala-Barbasa (DT), Jayden Williams (WR), Kendall Griffin (CB) and Mason Wright (LB).
The next crop of Cowpokes is already under construction with early national signing day set for December. Here's what we know so far when it comes to 2027 verbal commits:
- Karson McKenzie - WR/DB - 5'11", 175 - Cherry Creek HS - Englewood, Colo. - Also had offers/ interest from: New Mexico, Toledo, Portland State
- Alijah Landrum-Hamilton - WR - 5'10", 160 - Cherry Creek HS - Englewood, Colo. - Also had offers/ interest from: Oregon State, Miami (Fla.), Ole Miss, Georgia State, Colorado State, Tulsa, Penn
- Peyton Schuster - OL - 6'6", 275 - Waterford Union HS - Waterford, Wisc. - Also had offers/ interest from: Liberty, Iowa State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Howard, Lindenwood, North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota
- Drew Benassi - LB - 6'2", 215 - Lee's Summit HS - Lee's Summit, Mo. - Also had offers/ interest from: Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Lindenwood, North Dakota, Penn, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Yale, Missouri S&T