Bohl’s Blueprint: Physicality, Leadership, and Relentless Effort Define Wyoming’s 2025 Defense
- Jeff Bugher
- Aug 10
- 3 min read
University of Wyoming defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl is heading into his second season as the head man on the defensive side of the ball. He’s setting a tone with buzz words that we’ve heard since spring ball…physicality, leadership, and a relentless work ethic.
What is Bohl expecting from his defense in 2025?
“The main thing I expect us to do is I expect to be a group that’s going to play extremely hard, play extreme physical, and have great leaders during play,” Bohl said. “That’s going to lead to limiting explosive plays. I think we’ve got a group of good, talented guys that are going to grow and learn as we keep going this year.”
The identity of this year’s defense is right along those same values.
“We’re going to try to be the hardest-playing team we can in the country and play with the extreme level of physicality that we need to pick up from last year that we lacked. You get those by emphasizing it. We’ve got a good physical offense that’s going to test us in that every single day.”
Bohl has shifted his defensive philosophy since last year, not just because of new personnel and transfers, but from lessons he’s learned over the last year.
“The reason my philosophy changed wasn’t as much because of the new guys we brought in, more as just me identifying and learning the areas I could improve on from last year,” Bohl said. “What’s really important? What do we really need to emphasize? You can get distracted by a lot of different things and you just gotta keep it focused on what really matters in football.”
For Bohl, fall camp is as much about building traits and habits as it is about installing schemes.
“You really gotta focus on… instilling traits in the players now in fall camp,” he said. “Fall camp’s some about scheme, but your scheme changes so much from game to game at times that this is more about techniques and attitude.”
Leadership on the defensive side is emerging, with both veterans and younger players stepping into roles.
“Ben Florentine’s done a really good job up front. I think Ian Bell at corner has done a good job, and then… Gary Rutherford (linebacker) has done a good job, Bohl said. “A good group of guys… when anyone sees stuff down, they gotta make sure they pick it up.”
The Cowboys’ defense took a hit with the news that defensive tackles Dante Drake and Caleb Robinson will miss the season.
“Anytime you lose two really good players at that spot, it’s hard,” Bohl admitted. “We’re just gonna have to make sure we grow up young guys fast… you’re gonna have to make sure you have them grow up while you gotta lean on a guy like Ben [Florentine], that’s played a lot of football, and a guy like Aneesh [Vyas]…a transfer in, so he’s new, but he’s played a lot of football.”
Incoming transfers could help fill many gaps left by graduation and outgoing transfers, many of whom could start contributing immediately.
“I think Desman Hearns (safety) has done some good things. Ethan Stuhlsatz and Brayden Johnson both have done really good things in the linebacker room,” Bohl said. “Then… Brayden Wilson at D-line. Those are some of the ones that stick off the top of the head, but I’d expect you see a lot of guys playing week one.”
Wyoming football is known for producing NFL talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Which former recent Cowboy defender would Aaron Bohl bring back if he hypothetically could?
Bohl couldn’t narrow it to just one.
“If I had to pick one, it’d be really hard not to pick Logan Wilson (linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals),” he said. “Obviously, just such a stud - he’s a great leader and could do so many things… stronger than an ox.”
“…Carl Granderson (defensive end, New Orleans Saints) would probably be the second one… just an absolute stud up front.”
“Those guys are just dominant.”
Don't forget to sign up for our email list, and follow us on our socials!
Subscribe to receive our newsletter here (no spam, we promise): Subscribe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pokesnews
X (formerly known as Twitter): https://x.com/Pokes_News
Comments