Tie seventh, Wyoming

Wyoming Cowboys

08-24-2006

2005 record: 4-7

2005 MWC record: 2-6

2006 predicted record: 3-9

Head coach: Joe Glenn, fourth

Last bowl appearance: 2004 Las Vegas Bowl, beat UCLA 24-21

QUARTERBACK: Joe Glenn made his rebuilding plans look easy when he guided the Cowboys to a 2004 bowl game win over UCLA in only his second season of taking over a program that had hit the MWC’s rock bottom in 2002. But the reality of competing a balanced conference caught up with the Cowboys last year when they not only dropped to 4-7 overall but won only two conference games. Glenn benefited from the Bramlet brothers (Cory and Casey) as his quarterback his first three seasons, but now he must find a way to duplicate the steady play of the Bramlets behind center. Junior Jacob Doss emerged as the starter from spring ball in competition with redshirt freshman Karsten Sween and sophomore Stinson Dean.

RUNNING BACK: Wynel Seldon’s return as a starting running back will help the transition at quarterback. Seldon led the team on the ground as he rushed for 871 yards after the 6-0, 205-pounder moved into the role of starter in the one-back offense during his freshman season. Seldon has the best package of size and speed with three scatbacks sitting behind him on the depth chart in Devin Moore (5-9), Ivan Harrison (5-7), Joseph Harris (5-7). Look for the Cowboys to use their quick collection of backs as receivers split wide or coming out of the backfield.

RECEIVER: The cast of receivers have been the strength of Wyoming’s offense in recent seasons and that tradition and returning starter Michael Ford will try to uphold that standard. The Cowboys lost first-team pick Jovon Bouknight, but Ford is a big receiver (6-2, 205) who was second on the team a year ago with 421 yards. The other two wide receivers to emerge from spring ball were senior Tyler Holden and junior Hoost Marsh. But redshirt freshman Evan Weatherspoon made end up beating out Holden or Marsh. Wade Betschart, an athletic junior, takes over at tight end.

OFFENSIVE LINE: If a team needs to a groom a new quarterback, one advantage is returning a veteran offensive line. The Cowboys gain such a benefit this year with four returning starters, including three seniors. The guards are sophomore Kyle Howard (6-6, 299) and senior Jason Karcher (6-3, 291), but Karcher is being shifted to center. The tackles are seniors Chase Johnson (6-8, 325) and Hunter Richards (6-7, 297). Johnson and Karcher earned conference honorable mention. Tim Bond, a sophomore, will play guard so Karcher can move to center.

DEFENSIVE LINE: In contrast to the offensive line, the Cowboys are thin in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. Nose tackle Jake Mayes is the anchor in the 3-4 alignment after finishing last season with 27 tackles. Wyoming lists only one 300-pounder on its three-deep in its undersized defensive line. Mike Groover (6-3, 250) and Corey Mace (6-3, 287) are slated to start outside of Mayes. The three starters are seniors, but the backups are inexperienced redshirt freshmen or sophomores.

LINEBACKERS: The strength of the defense will be a mobile crew of linebackers with three returning starters, including Ward Dobbs, who earned honorable mention as a freshman. Dobbs is the weakside linebacker while the other returning starters are middle linebacker Luke Chase and strongside linebacker Austin Hall. Adam Diehl also earned some starts last year at the Buck linebacker position, but Mike Juergens emerged as the Buck starter out of spring bal. Diehl is versatile enough to also play the outside linebacker positions. There is experience among the backups with juniors Sean Claffey and Brandon Haugen.

SECONDARY: The Cowboys came up short on last year’s all-conference team among first- and second-team selections, but strong safety John Wendling was honorable mention. The thin defensive line puts pressure on Wyoming’s cover package, but the backups moving into starting roles are experienced. The cornerbacks are junior Michael Medina and junior Julis Stinson and the free safety is senior Dorsey Golston. Glenn’s recruiting efforts also are apparent with the number of redshirt freshman cracking the three deep in the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Cowboys’ inexperienced offense can’t rely on an experienced kicking game to get them out of holes early in the season. Redshirt freshman Jake Scott takes over at place-kicker and junior Billy Vinnedge at punter. Wyoming also must replace all-conference return man Jovon Bouknight.

Tom Shanahan can be contacted at 619-699-2334 or toms@sdhoc.com.