Wyoming Football Releases Final 2019 Spring Depth Chart
Laramie, Wyo. (May 2, 2018) -- The University of Wyoming Cowboy Football team wrapped up 2019 Spring Football last Saturday. With the completion of Spring Drills, the Wyoming coaching staff released its final spring depth chart on Thursday as the Cowboys head into summer conditioning starting on May 27.
Quarterback Competition
The competition at quarterback this spring featured redshirt freshman Sean Chambers and sophomore Tyler Vander Waal. The depth chart released today has Chambers listed as the starter coming out of the spring, with Vander Waal No. 2 on the depth chart.
The two QBs shared the starting duties last season. Vander Waal started the first eight games. Chambers played in his first game in Week 8 versus Utah State, when he entered the game in the second half. He then started the next three games against Colorado State, San Jose State and Air Force. Chambers led the Cowboys to wins over CSU and SJSU, but early in the Air Force game he suffered a season-ending leg injury and Vander Waal returned to lead the Pokes to a thrilling 35-27 comeback victory. Vander Waal also started the season-ending road game at New Mexico, that was won by the Cowboys, and he helped lead the Pokes to early-season wins over New Mexico State and Wofford.
The reason Chambers is a redshirt freshman, with four years of eligibility remaining, is due to the change in the NCAA redshirt rule last season. That change allowed players, who had never redshirted previously, the opportunity to play up to four games at any time during the season and still use the year as a redshirt season.
Secondary in Transition, But Still Returns Talented Veterans
An area of the Cowboy defense that is in transition is the secondary. Gone to the NFL are four-year starters at safety Marcus Epps and Andrew Wingard, but despite their absence there are several talented, veteran players returning. Senior cornerbacks Tyler Hall and Antonio Hull return as starters with a combined 48 career starts between them. Sophomore corner C.J. Coldon also returns after starting the first three games of the 2018 season before suffering a season-ending injury. He is listed as a backup at corner on the final spring depth chart along with redshirt freshman Blake Harrington.
At strong safety, senior Alijah Halliburton started six of the final seven games last season, when former Cowboy safety Epps was being utilized as a nickel back. Halliburton has played in a career 39 games. Thursday’s depth chart did reveal a competition at free safety where junior Braden Smith and redshirt freshman Rome Weber are listed as co-starters coming out of spring.
Another young player who will play a key role on defense in 2019 will be sophomore Keyon Blankenbaker. Blankenbaker was moved to nickel/strong-side linebacker this spring after getting four starts at cornerback in the middle of last season. He and now senior Tyler Hall have switched positions to take advantage of Hall’s excellent coverage skills. Hall was moved back to corner late last season and former Poke Epps played the nickel position down the stretch.
Familiar Faces on Defense
In addition to veterans Hall, Halliburton and Hull in the secondary, there are a number of other familiar faces on the defensive depth chart. Senior middle linebacker and 2019 All-America candidate Logan Wilson returns to anchor the defense. Wilson has started every game of his college career for the Cowboys -- 39 consecutive games -- was elected a team captain as a sophomore and a junior and led Wyoming in tackles each of the past two seasons. Beside him is fellow senior Cassh Maluia at weak-side linebacker. Maluia has started 25 of the last 37 games he has played for the Pokes. SophomoreChad Muma and senior Ben Wisdorf are listed as the backups at middle linebacker and weak-side linebacker, respectively.
Four veterans also return on the defensive line. At defensive end, senior Josiah Hall has 20 career starts, and junior Garrett Crall started 11 of 12 games in 2018. At defensive tackle, junior Ravontae Holt returns after an outstanding sophomore season where he started the final four games of the season. Joining Holt on the interior will be junior nose tackle Javaree Jackson, who has played in 19 games, starting two over the past two seasons. Sophomore Victor Jones adds experience at defensive tackle, appearing in 11 games and starting one as a redshirt freshman. The other defensive line depth will come from a group of young players, including: sophomore defensive end Davon Wells-Ross, redshirt freshman nose tackle Mario Mora and redshirt freshmen defensive ends Solomon Byrd, Leevi Lafaele and Teagan Liufau.
“Senior” Receiving Corps
When looking at the Wyoming receiving corps it is a unit packed with upperclassmen. At the three wide receiver spots listed on the depth chart, four of the five players listed are seniors. Austin Conway, C.J. Johnson, John Okwoli and Raghib Ismail Jr. are all entering their senior seasons for the Cowboys. The fifth receiver listed on the two-deep is junior Ayden Eberhardt. Conway is the most experienced, having played in 39 games and started 24. Okwoli has played in 38 career games, starting six. Johnson, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury he suffered in the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, has played in 27 career games, starting 11. Ismail is in his second season with the Cowboys after transferring from Cisco Community College in Texas last season. He played in 11 games in 2018 and started two. Junior Eberhardt has 19 career games to his credit, with two starts.
Sitting atop the tight end position is redshirt senior Josh Harshman. Harshman was injured in the third game of the 2018 season at Missouri and missed the remainder of the season. He was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA, and so will return for his fifth season in the program. His experience will be invaluable to an otherwise young tight end group. Harshman has started 12 of the 41 games he has played in his Wyoming career. Backing him up will be sophomore Nate Wienman and redshirt freshman Jackson Marcotte.
Laramie, Wyo. (May 2, 2018) -- The University of Wyoming Cowboy Football team wrapped up 2019 Spring Football last Saturday. With the completion of Spring Drills, the Wyoming coaching staff released its final spring depth chart on Thursday as the Cowboys head into summer conditioning starting on May 27.
Quarterback Competition
The competition at quarterback this spring featured redshirt freshman Sean Chambers and sophomore Tyler Vander Waal. The depth chart released today has Chambers listed as the starter coming out of the spring, with Vander Waal No. 2 on the depth chart.
The two QBs shared the starting duties last season. Vander Waal started the first eight games. Chambers played in his first game in Week 8 versus Utah State, when he entered the game in the second half. He then started the next three games against Colorado State, San Jose State and Air Force. Chambers led the Cowboys to wins over CSU and SJSU, but early in the Air Force game he suffered a season-ending leg injury and Vander Waal returned to lead the Pokes to a thrilling 35-27 comeback victory. Vander Waal also started the season-ending road game at New Mexico, that was won by the Cowboys, and he helped lead the Pokes to early-season wins over New Mexico State and Wofford.
The reason Chambers is a redshirt freshman, with four years of eligibility remaining, is due to the change in the NCAA redshirt rule last season. That change allowed players, who had never redshirted previously, the opportunity to play up to four games at any time during the season and still use the year as a redshirt season.
Secondary in Transition, But Still Returns Talented Veterans
An area of the Cowboy defense that is in transition is the secondary. Gone to the NFL are four-year starters at safety Marcus Epps and Andrew Wingard, but despite their absence there are several talented, veteran players returning. Senior cornerbacks Tyler Hall and Antonio Hull return as starters with a combined 48 career starts between them. Sophomore corner C.J. Coldon also returns after starting the first three games of the 2018 season before suffering a season-ending injury. He is listed as a backup at corner on the final spring depth chart along with redshirt freshman Blake Harrington.
At strong safety, senior Alijah Halliburton started six of the final seven games last season, when former Cowboy safety Epps was being utilized as a nickel back. Halliburton has played in a career 39 games. Thursday’s depth chart did reveal a competition at free safety where junior Braden Smith and redshirt freshman Rome Weber are listed as co-starters coming out of spring.
Another young player who will play a key role on defense in 2019 will be sophomore Keyon Blankenbaker. Blankenbaker was moved to nickel/strong-side linebacker this spring after getting four starts at cornerback in the middle of last season. He and now senior Tyler Hall have switched positions to take advantage of Hall’s excellent coverage skills. Hall was moved back to corner late last season and former Poke Epps played the nickel position down the stretch.
Familiar Faces on Defense
In addition to veterans Hall, Halliburton and Hull in the secondary, there are a number of other familiar faces on the defensive depth chart. Senior middle linebacker and 2019 All-America candidate Logan Wilson returns to anchor the defense. Wilson has started every game of his college career for the Cowboys -- 39 consecutive games -- was elected a team captain as a sophomore and a junior and led Wyoming in tackles each of the past two seasons. Beside him is fellow senior Cassh Maluia at weak-side linebacker. Maluia has started 25 of the last 37 games he has played for the Pokes. SophomoreChad Muma and senior Ben Wisdorf are listed as the backups at middle linebacker and weak-side linebacker, respectively.
Four veterans also return on the defensive line. At defensive end, senior Josiah Hall has 20 career starts, and junior Garrett Crall started 11 of 12 games in 2018. At defensive tackle, junior Ravontae Holt returns after an outstanding sophomore season where he started the final four games of the season. Joining Holt on the interior will be junior nose tackle Javaree Jackson, who has played in 19 games, starting two over the past two seasons. Sophomore Victor Jones adds experience at defensive tackle, appearing in 11 games and starting one as a redshirt freshman. The other defensive line depth will come from a group of young players, including: sophomore defensive end Davon Wells-Ross, redshirt freshman nose tackle Mario Mora and redshirt freshmen defensive ends Solomon Byrd, Leevi Lafaele and Teagan Liufau.
“Senior” Receiving Corps
When looking at the Wyoming receiving corps it is a unit packed with upperclassmen. At the three wide receiver spots listed on the depth chart, four of the five players listed are seniors. Austin Conway, C.J. Johnson, John Okwoli and Raghib Ismail Jr. are all entering their senior seasons for the Cowboys. The fifth receiver listed on the two-deep is junior Ayden Eberhardt. Conway is the most experienced, having played in 39 games and started 24. Okwoli has played in 38 career games, starting six. Johnson, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury he suffered in the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, has played in 27 career games, starting 11. Ismail is in his second season with the Cowboys after transferring from Cisco Community College in Texas last season. He played in 11 games in 2018 and started two. Junior Eberhardt has 19 career games to his credit, with two starts.
Sitting atop the tight end position is redshirt senior Josh Harshman. Harshman was injured in the third game of the 2018 season at Missouri and missed the remainder of the season. He was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA, and so will return for his fifth season in the program. His experience will be invaluable to an otherwise young tight end group. Harshman has started 12 of the 41 games he has played in his Wyoming career. Backing him up will be sophomore Nate Wienman and redshirt freshman Jackson Marcotte.
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