Fall Previews 13 of 63: Wyoming

Wyoming:

Head Coach: Craig Bohl
2014 Record: (4-8, 2-6 MWC)
Basic Offense: Multiple
Basic Defense: 4-3/4-2-5

Offense: 

The Wyoming offense will be led by a new field general this season with the departure of quarterback Colby Kirkegaard to graduation. The Cowboys have been waiting for what seems so long for former Indiana quarterback Cameron Coffman (249-416/2,763/15TD at Indiana) to take over the offense. The senior fell out of favor at Indiana and should be able to step in an replace the 2,600 yards and 12 touchdowns lost from Kirkegaard's departure. Sophomore Josh Allen should be next in line after spending the 2014 season playing in the JUCO ranks. Easily the backup heading into the fall. Aaron Young and Nick Smith will battle for the third string quarterback heading into fall camp.

Shaun Wick

The Cowboys were lucky enough to establish two running backs with skill in 2014 with senior Shaun Wick (126/753/6TD) and sophomore Brian Hill (145/796/7TD) combining for 1,549 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall. The duo also combined to catch 23 passes out of the backfield that would have put the duo behind only three receivers for total returning catches. Sophomore Joshua Tapscott (15/80/2TD) should also see limited action this fall as the #3 running back with redshirt freshman Nico Evans and incoming freshman Kellen Overstreet also vying for playing time on special teams primarily. In a backfield starting to crowd with sophomores, fullback Drew Van Maanen (2/25/0TD receiving) will led the way for the multitude of backs carrying the football after making seven starts in 2014. Junior Jordan Ellis (1/5/0TD) will also see playing time as the backup fullback with redshirt freshmen Wade Cicierski and Matt List looking to find the field after redshirting last fall.

The only returning tight end for the Cowboys in 2015 is junior Jacob Hollister (17/244/2TD). The 6-4, 230 pound pass catcher ended last season fifth on the team in receptions including a 66-yard catch. His ability to stretch the middle of the field is crucial to the success of both the running game and the play action passing game. Redshirt freshman Tyree Mayfield, a Missouri native, won the backup job over Grant Lewis and should see the field in several different situations this fall.

Tanner Gentry

In the two receiver set that the Cowboys run, a pair of juniors will lead the way heading into the 2015 season. X-Receiver Jake Maulhardt (21/274/1TD) will be expected to take a step forward this fall after finishing the 2014 season as the fourth leading receiver on the team. His size, 6-6, 215 pounds, must be utilized in the red zone with one touchdown catch unacceptable this fall. Behind Maulhardt on the depth chart is junior Tom Thornton (4-10/50/0TD), a former quarterback. Thornton's ability to make the transition to wide receiver has gone well so far with the 6-1 pass catcher earning a spot on the depth chart heading into fall practice. At the Z-Receiver slot, junior Tanner Gentry (32/435/2TD) comes into the season as the team's leading returning receiver. Gentry only made three starts but really came on as the season progressed and is expected to be a big part of the Cowboy offense this fall. Fellow junior Tanner Simpson is the only other receiver with game experience and is the backup for Gentry. Wyoming has a stunning seven true freshman wide receivers on the roster with lots of excitement about which receivers will break through for playing time this fall.

Chase Roullier

The left side of the Wyoming offensive line is the strongest in 2015 led by junior left guard Chase Roullier (15 career starts), an Honorable mention All-MWC honoree last fall. Redshirt freshman Richard Bettencourt, at 6-3, 284 pounds, should be a solid backup for Roullier on the offensive line. Moving outside to tackle, sophomore Ryan Cummings will retain his starting position after playing in and starting seven games last fall as a true freshman. The 6-6, 301 pound lineman has the chance to work himself into an NFL look before his career completes at Wyoming. Redshirt junior Eli Moody will be counted on to provide depth behind Cummings. In the middle at center is the most interesting battle as senior Rafe Kiely (17 career starts) was slowed by injuries and is currently sitting behind sophomore Charlis Renfree for the starting job. Kiely should be the opening night starter after making all 12 starts in 2014 but will not have the position given to him this fall. At right guard, senior Troy Boyland is making a position change after spending the 2014 season at defensive tackle. On the basis of his impressive spring, he heads into fall camp leading redshirt freshman Cole Turner for the top spot at right guard. Finally out on the right end of the line, another sophomore holds a starting spot with Taylor Knestis looking to find time at first string after appearing only versus Colorado State in 2014. Fellow sophomore Kurtis Stirneman will play in the backup role after seeing no playing time in 2014.

Defense: 

Eddie Yarbrough

The Cowboys, one of the poorer defenses in the nation in 2014, return a defensive line that has at least one start at every position led by senior end Eddie Yarbrough (63 tkl, 10.5 tfl, 4 sacks). The 6-3, 251 pound defensive end was a first team All-MWC selection in 2014 and is the one player on the Wyoming defense that must be accounted for on every play. Sophomore Trevor Meader is making the move to defense and will be looking to add depth at the left defensive end spot. Junior Uso Olive (20 tkl, 2 tfl) is experienced in the middle with 11 starts last fall, one of only two Cowboy defenders to make 10+ starts last fall. Redshirt freshman Sidney Malauulu will need to step up as a reserve in the defensive tackle rotation. At right defensive end, Hawaiian product Siaosi Hala’api’api (20 tkl, 5.5 tfl, 3 sacks) had a solid season in 2014 but only made five starts and was not depended upon as much as he will be this fall. His progress will be essential for the Cowboys defense to improve. Backup Jonathan Kongbo is another redshirt freshman that must be ready to play significant snaps in the defensive line rotation after sitting out last fall. In the middle is undersized nose guard Chase Appleby (12 tkl, 1 tfl). There is question for concern whether Appleby can stand up to the punishment inflicted in the trenches in a 12 game season. Backup Dalton Fields is bigger but still needs to pack on some extra size as his career progresses. Seth Edeen (6 tkl, 2 tfl, 2 sacks), Jacob English, and Adam Kinder should all see time in the defensive line rotation.

Wyoming is officially running a 4-3 defensive set this fall but in all reality, the players are set up for a 4-2-5 with newly minted linebacker Tim Kamana (44 tkl, 1 INT) taking over the strong side linebacker spot. Kamana made seven starts as a redshirt freshman and will play a combination nickelback/linebacker with German incoming freshman Luis Bach backing him up. The Wyoming coaching staff is excited about Bach and expect a bright future for the German product. In the middle is worrisome as junior Eric Nzeocha (1 tkl) is currently holding the starting spot after making the move from tight end. The 6-3, 211 pound linebacker is incredibly athletic and could bring big play ability to the Cowboys defense but has very little experience heading into the fall. Senior backup Devin McKenna is back after taking a year away from football and is still looking for his first career game played for Wyoming. Weak side linebacker is the most experienced spot of the three with junior Lucas Wacha (52 tkl, 4 tfl) and his backup, junior Will Tutein (32 tkl, 2 tfl) made a combined eight starts last fall with Tutein's starts coming at safety. If Wacha can return to his 2013 form, it would give a boost to the Wyoming defense.

Robert Priester

Heading into fall camp, the Cowboys maybe have one of the youngest depth charts in all of the FBS. All four starters at his point are redshirt freshmen that have yet to take a snap on the college level. Cornerbacks C.J. Jennings and Anthony Makransky are both 5-10, 180 pound cover corners that will be thrown into the fire immediately if sophomore Robert Priester (39 tkl, 2 pbu, 2 pd) is not healthy for fall practice. Priester made seven starts in 2014 and if healthy should overtake a cornerback spot for the season opener. Sophomore Ryon’e Winters (4 tkl) and senior Tyran Finley (17 tkl, 2 tfl, 2 INT) should see playing time with Finley possibly making some starts this fall. Redshirt freshman Adam Pilapil will man the starting free safety spot with Chavez Pownell Jr., also a redshirt freshman, manning the strong safety slot. Yet another redshirt freshman, Marcus Epps, will back up Pownell Jr. at strong safety. After two years at running back, junior D.J. May is making the move to the secondary and should see the field if he can only stay healthy.

Special Teams: 

Wyoming is so confident in their punter that only junior Ethan Wood was named to the depth chart. The 6-3, 173 pounder punted the ball 66 times with a 41.4 avg., a long of 67, 18 punts landing inside the 20, and eight going over 50 yards. Junior Justin Martin was redshirted in 2014 after two years as a kickoff specialist and should be able to easily step into that role this fall. Field goals are another matter and Martin needs to be up to the task this fall.

Overall: 

When you go 4-8 and finish over 100 in scoring offense and scoring defense with a point differential of -11.7, you have to take the chance to blow everything up and start over. Wyoming has taken that thought to heart, especially on defense and this team should not resemble last year's squad for good or bad.

The Cowboys start the season with two winnable games at home versus FCS foe North Dakota and MAC rival Eastern Michigan. Wyoming will be favored to win in both games and should not have a ton of trouble taking care of either squad. After a 2-0 start, the schedule gets much harder with trips to Washington State, Appalachian State, and Air Force wrapped around a home game versus New Mexico. I will be generous to the Cowboys and saw they go 1-3 in that stretch with a win over New Mexico to put them at 3-3 in mid October. Another problem that Wyoming faces is that the Mountain West Conference is just flat out good and they are not.

Counting the Air Force game a week earlier, the Cowboys proceed to face six straight bowl teams from 2014 with only two games being at home. Wyoming will lose all five to Nevada at home, Boise State on the road, Utah State on the road, Colorado State at home, and San Diego State on the road to drop to 3-8. A win in the season finale over UNLV will salvage another 4-8 record and put the Cowboys in the same spot as in 2014, trying to make up ground in a race versus faster opponents. Prediction: 4-8.