Brayden Wilson: From Weber State to Wyoming – A Perfect Fit
- Jeff Bugher
- Mar 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 4
Defensive end Brayden Wilson transferred from Weber State to Wyoming over the offseason, and he’s feeling right at home on the high plains. In an exclusive interview with the 6’5”, 260 Lbs senior, Wilson gave us insight into his decision to come to Wyoming, his impressions of Laramie, his goals on and off the field, and his appreciation for the opportunity to represent his family name in the brown and gold.
A Path to Wyoming
Wilson has never been to a Wyoming football game. Still, he did step foot on the field while he was with Weber State—he told us he envisioned himself playing at War Memorial Stadium long before he ever decided to transfer.
"Funny enough, back in 2022 or 2023, we made a stop at Wyoming when we were going to Northern Colorado," Wilson recalled. "We thought that Wyoming would be a good place to do a stretch on the field, and I remember just looking up [at War Memorial Stadium] and being like, 'I can play here.'"
His recruitment moved quickly once he entered the transfer portal.
Flash forward to December 2024, and what was once a vision in Wilson’s mind became a reality. So, what made Brayden choose Wyoming?
"There’s a lot of things," Wilson said about his decision to commit to Wyoming. "One, the people. The coaches and the players—both of them just really stood out to me. When I was talking with Coach Brian Hendricks, he really stood out to me as a good man, and he was one of my big reasons. Just the atmosphere, too."
"Wyoming was always a place I wanted to end up at," Wilson said. "I just got off the phone with my old coach, and apparently, he’s very good friends with someone on the staff. He got me in contact with them, and things just happened quickly. The next day we set up an official visit, and then as soon as I was done with that official visit, I got home and committed. It was a decision that my wife and I prayed for, and we wanted to make it happen."
First Impressions of Laramie
Wilson, who grew up in Utah, immediately felt at home in Wyoming’s atmosphere.
"For me, I’m not a city guy. I’m more of a country guy," he explained. "Just coming into Laramie gives you that old country feel, and everyone cares about the university. The hardware store’s Wyoming logo is bigger than the actual hardware store logo, which is really cool. You see how much the town is about the university. There’s nothing else for 45 minutes, yet it’s still all about the University of Wyoming."
Wilson appreciated the coaching staff's straightforwardness, especially their approach to his development and making sure he could grow as a player.
"One thing that really stood out to me is that even though they really liked my raw style of playing—my very aggressive nature—they took me into the film room and said, ‘OK, these are some clips of things you’ve done not so well. What we’re going to do is find ways to make it better.’"
For Wilson, that honesty was refreshing.
"They weren’t just feeding me a bunch of BS," he said. "They were going to show me my flaws too, and make sure I was on top of it."
Fitting into Wyoming’s Defense
"At Weber, they used me in a lot of different formations." Wyoming can use me as versatile as they want. If they need me to drop, I know how to drop in coverage, and I’m good with that. And then just during their more physical matchups—I feel like that’s where I’m best suited because that’s what I like to do. I like to hit."
What game is Brayden most excited about?
“One of the games I’m most excited for is Air Force...It’s going to be exciting."
Big Decisions
Wilson had other schools contact him when he entered his name into the transfer portal, but Wyoming stood out to him and really influenced his decision.
"I started having some pretty big schools talk to me, and it was getting exciting," Wilson said. "But I had to also think—what kind of program do I want to go to? What kind of place do I want to take my wife and my future family? Wyoming really stood out to me over a lot of other schools."
What is the Motivation Behind Brayden?
Family plays a big role in Wilson’s life, and he attributes much of his success to them.
"My dad has never misses a football game," he said. "Whenever we travel, he travels. I’ve never seen him miss a game. My mom has been a big reason for pushing me to become a better person, and that helps translate into sports."
Wilson comes from an athletic family. "My mom was a five-star volleyball recruit. My dad had basketball offers but chose trade school. My older brother had rugby opportunities but suffered a career-ending injury. My younger brother was one of the top rugby recruits in the world but has a spinal condition that prevents him from playing. So, I’ve been the only one fortunate enough to make it to this level.
He also credits his coaches for his development.
"I had a couple phenomenal coaches I’ve gotten to work with," Wilson said. "One of them, Grant Duff, is now the defensive coordinator at Idaho State. He played a big role in my life—we’re actually from the same hometown. Just from what he did as a player [at Utah] and then to see him come back and be a coach, he’s been very good at relating to the players along with coaching really well."
Goals Beyond Football
Wilson didn’t hesitate when we asked him about his future goals.
"First and foremost, the goal is the league. The goal is always the league," Wilson said. "Second, I’m going to go play professional rugby once I’m done with football. And then once I am done with that, I kind of have two options. One, I want to go get a veterinarian degree, go to vet school, and be my own vet on-site for an elk ranch. My next option is getting into coaching—either rugby or football."
Already Making an Impression with Sawvel
Wyoming football head coach Jay Sawvel spoke highly of Brayden's commitment to the team during his signing day press conference in February. "A couple weeks ago, when was super cold here, his car door was frozen. He couldn’t open it to come to a 6:30 A.M. run. The number of guys who would have tried to call in or make an excuse. Well, he... Rocky Balboa’d it across Laramie, for a little over a mile to get here on time for the run. So he's out there...at 6:00 A.M. in the morning, in -2 degree weather, to get somewhere on time. And you appreciate that. That’s what was needed. We needed an infusion of that."
Message to Wyoming Fans
Wilson knows that playing in front of the passionate Wyoming faithful will be an unforgettable experience, and he’s ready to give them his all.
"One thing you can expect from me every single time you see me on that field—I’m there to get into a bloody brawl and play some hard-nosed football," Wilson said. "I love to hit, and you’re going to see me face that a lot. That’s what you can expect out of me—just that fire."
And as for the Fans?
"Thank you all for welcoming me with open arms. It’s been a great experience coming here, and I’m really excited to get to know you all. I want to be involved in the community, and I hope to get to know a lot of you."
Fun Facts About Brayden Wilson
Biggest influences: His parents and key coaches
Rugby Background
Favorite NFL player: T.J. Watt ("The way he plays, that aggressive nature—he’s just so much fun to watch.")
NFL team: Atlanta Falcons ("My dad tried to get me to root for the Broncos, but I was born in Georgia.")
Spirit animal: Water buffalo ("They’re really calm and gentle until you get them riled up. Then you want to get out of the way.")
Married life: Wilson and his wife, Sierra, have been married for about 10 months.
And finally, for any Wyoming fans who share his passion for the outdoors:
"If anyone knows some good hunting spots, please take me," Wilson said with a laugh.
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