Welcome to the ninth post in our twelve-part recruiting breakdown series. Today will look at the #9 team in our rankings, Wyoming. The Cowboys didn’t blow anyone away with their recruiting class, but there was still enough talent on both ends of the ball to improve the roster. Read about the new players below.
The Skinny:
- Recruits signed: 40
- High school: 20
- JUCO: 1
- Transfers: 19
- Offensive: 19
- Defensive: 20
- Special Teams: 1
- Number of 3-stars per 247 rankings: 21
- Players with a rating over 85: 5
- Players with a rating over 82: 13
- Breakdown by state (excluding transfers):
- Texas: 5
- Missouri: 4
- Colorado: 2
- Illinois: 2
- Nevada: 2
- Wyoming: 2
- Arizona: 1
- California: 1
- Nebraska: 1
- Tennessee: 1
- Oregon: 1
- 247 Rankings (subject to change)
- Recruiting: 114
- Transfer: 118
- Overall: 116
The Players:
QB Taylor Hasselbeck
Stand out skills:
- A true duel-threat who consistently makes plays
- Able to throw downfield with ease and accuracy
- Goes through his reads quickly to get the ball out before the pressure comes
- Picks up speed as he runs past the line of scrimmage, keeping his eyes up to avoid tackles
RB Ryken Banks
Stand out skills:
- Hits the hole hard as soon as he sees an opening
- Capable receiver out of the backfield, where he can run after the catch in open space
- Shifty in traffic, avoiding tackles until he can get to the outside
- Strong blocker in pass-protection
WR Jordan Styles
Stand out skills:
- Blazing speed on his routes, instantly breaking free of defensive backs
- Will blocker on run plays to help out his teammates
- Technical route runner who is great at faking DBs and coming back to the ball
- A versatile weapon that gets the ball in a variety of ways
WR Jarell Gary Jr
Stand out skills:
- Able to make difficult and contested catches all over the field
- Features an array of moves after the catch to avoid tackles and gain additional yards
- Capable of rushing the ball as well as catching it, making him dangerous
- Finds another gear in the open field, running away from the defense for easy touchdowns
WR Jayden Williams
Stand out skills:
- Smooth route-runner who consistently gets open with fundamentals and speed
- Tracks the ball well in the air, with reliable hands to come down with catches
- Wracks up yards after the catch, turning nice gains into chunk plays
- Able to showcase his full range of skills as a kick returner
TE Ishmael Muhammad
Stand out skills:
- Has great size makes him a tough matchup for the defense
- Turns upfield quickly after the catch and bounces off tackles
- Plays all over the offense as a RB, WR, and TE
- Nice blocker on the outside will help him fully translate to tight end
TE Colin Ford
Stand out skills:
- Size makes him a main target over the middle of the field and in the endzone
- Bruising blocker who opens up big holes for running backs
- Nice vision running after the catch to find openings
- Runs over defenders on his way for first downs
OL Pierce Decker
Stand out skills:
- Stays low and unleashes his lower-body strength when blocking for run plays
- Bullies defensive linemen, knocking them to the ground and getting them off balance
- Opens up massive running lanes for tailbacks, driving his man completely out of the action
- Moves well laterally in pass protection
OL Jackson Garrett
Stand out skills:
- Quick off the snap, matching up with defensive ends right away to neutralize the pass rush
- Pancakes his man when run-blocking with regularity
- Physical player who initiates contact to set the tone
- At his best when moving defenders out of the way for running backs
OL Jonathan Pearcy
Stand out skills:
- Initiates contact immediately when the play starts, putting defenders on their heels
- Strong blocker, looks like he’s doing the sled push in live action as he clears out his man
- Doesn’t let go of his man until the whistle is blown
- Moves well around the line of scrimmage to be a featured blocker in whatever the play is
OL Grant Lott
Stand out skills:
- Solid in pass protection, keeping his balance going backward
- Consistently able to get into the second level on blocks, taking defense out of the play
- Able to execute his assignment each snap and keep defensive linemen at bay
- Counters the burst off the edge with sound footwork
DL Tanielu Ma’afala-Barbasa
Stand out skills:
- Full of energy as he continuously moves until he can break free in the backfield
- Displays his strength as he wraps up the quarterback and drags him down to the ground
- Able to shoot through the gap and cause havoc behind the line of scrimmage
- Adapt at stunts as he generates an interior pass rush
DL MacGregor Byers
Stand out skills:
- Stout against the run, making forceful tackles to stop running backs
- Sheds blocks easily, tossing players aside while demonstrating his power
- Deciphers plays well, able to refrain from overpursuing or recover quickly
- Versatile enough to play inside or outside on the defensive line
EDGE Mason Wright
Stand out skills:
- Flies off the edge to disrupt players before they can develop
- Quickness and awareness on the field allow him to drop back into coverage with no issue
- A violent hitter, stopping ball carriers in their tracks
- Takes good routes to the ball and squares up on his tackles to complete the play
EDGE Dante Bruley
Stand out skills:
- Able to collapse the pocket immediately and wrap up the quarterback before he can get a pass off
- Beats his man off the snap using a blend of speed, power, and spin moves
- Displays a nice burst to track down ball carriers trying to get to the outside
- Idenfifies plays in real time and reacts in the moment to disrupt them
DE Xavier Jackson
Stand out skills:
- Boundless energy, giving 100% on every play
- Utilizes a quick first step to get off his blocks and into the backfield
- Can line up inside or outside to disrupt plays
- Great in run defense to shut down runners at the line of scrimmage
DE Beck Haswell
Stand out skills:
- Athletic player, lining up in different positions on both side of the ball to make impact plays
- Able to shed blocks and chase down quarterbacks for sacks
- Long limbs and quickness make hin an ideal eddge player
- Drives offensive linemen back, stuffing up run plays
LB Bo Gable
Stand out skills:
- Displays great game speed, which allows him to track down running backs for tackles on the run
- Strong blitzer, flying off the edge to notch a sack before the play can get going
- Sound tackler, squring up to the midsection of the ball carier and driving them to the ground
- Sees the field well to find holes from his time as a running back
DB Kendall Griffin Jr
Stand out skills:
- Physical corner who plays tight press coverage at the line of scrimmage
- Fight through screens to bring down backs and receivers in the flat
- Strong instincts help him get extra steps as the play develops to be in the thick of the action
- Successful in zone as well, where he can see the field and close in on the ball
DB Therman Williams
Stand out skills:
- Great play recognition, jumping routes to come away with interceptions
- Track the ball well in the air, aiding him as zone coverage
- Knows how to gain inside leverage on wide receivers and bump them off their routes
- Plays tight coverage, matching WRs stride for stride
Team Writer Thoughts:
Wyoming didn’t have a star-studded high school recruiting class, but that is not the realistic expectation in Laramie. What is expected is that the coaching staff find “Wyoming tough” players who are not only able, but are wanting to represent the lone FBS school in the state. Head coach Jay Sawvel is entering is third year at the helm, and it is readily apparent that he is emphasizing the run game once again with the offensive linemen being brought in. Beyond schematic consistency, this era of college football requires having true athletes that can simply make plays beyond the call sheet, and the Cowboys managed to sign a few of those coveted players. On defense, they will find a way to maintain their stifling identity that has put opponents into straight jackets year in and year out. And at the most important position – quarterback – Wyoming only brought in one out of the high school ranks, that being Taylor Hasselbeck. If you vaguely remember a name like that, it is because Taylor is the son of former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselback and is the nephew of fellow NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
Not a bad line of lineage.
In a newly renovated Mountain West devoid of the usual title contenders, Wyoming has the chance to prop itself into the upper third of the conference on a consistent basis. If just a few of the pieces they brought in can make an immediate impact, 2026 may very well be Sawvel’s best season in Laradise.
Quick Hits:
(High school players only)
Headliner(s):
Mike: Williams, Ford
Aiden: Ford, Williams
Prominent talent:
Mike: Styles, Bruley, Pearcy
Aiden: Bruley, Styles, Pearcy
Favorite Recruit(s):
Mike: Williams, Bruley
Aiden: Ford, Pearcy
Sleeper Recruit(s):
Mike: Gary Jr, Byers
Aiden: Haswell, Hasselbeck
Best unit(s):
Mike: Wide receiver, EDGE
Aiden: Wide receiver, EDGE
Transfer Players:
Here is the list of transfer players Wyoming signed. We are moving away from commenting on their film, as it’s often many years outdated by this point, and frankly, it’s become too time-consuming. Jack is doing a tremendous job commenting on transfer players in his transfer tracker. Instead, this section will comment on the class as a whole in terms of attempting to address needs and overall philosophy.
QB Tyler Hughes
RB Markell Holman
RB Diore Hubbard
WR Justin Popovich
TE Tyler Siddons
OL Jackson Maciejczak
OL Chandler Donaway
OL Jeremiah Katt
DT Ja’quan Redfern
DE Thaddeus Gianaris
DE Donnie Wingate
DE Jack Dunkley
LB Karson Butts
LB Anthony Beavers
DB Junus McGraw
DB Jett Vincent
DB Logan Mackey
DB Travis Franklin Jr
DB Da’marion Brownlee
LS Nathan Curry
The Cowboys had a lot of holes to fill on their roster following a disappointing end to the season, and they had a plethora of departures afterward. Fortunately, they devoted a lot of time to adding new players, especially on offense. The hope is that they have added a competent quarterback who can lead a passing offense. The transfer additions seem a bit light on wide receivers, with only one new one, but they aren’t short on offensive weapons, with two running backs and a tight end to step into roles next season. Wyoming definitely emphasized defensive ends and defensive backs this year, restocking the defense to remain one of the top units in the country. Hopefully, it all comes together for the team next season.
Summary:
The Cowboys were no strangers to roster turnover this offseason, which allowed them to add many new, talented players in an attempt to improve the team. These additions are helping the program become more athletic, especially in the trenches. One one side of the ball, the offense line all appear to be built for run-blocking, which could once again become a strength of the offense. On the other side, there are a number of quick-twitch athletes with length to rush the passer and cause havoc in the backfield. Wyoming still needs to find a way to get the offense going, but it should have more talent, and the defense appears to be formidable once again in the coming season.
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