Day Two of Spring Football: Sawvel Praises Team’s Progress

Second-year defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl. Photo by UW Athletics

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Spring weather in Wyoming can be unpredictable, but the sunny weather on Thursday enticed head coach Jay Sawvel to describe Laramie as feeling like "North Florida," as the Cowboys continued their spring football practices with day two of 15.

Sawvel was pleased with the team's progress, stating, "There’s a lot of learning, and I thought today was better with a lot of different layers of things that we control as players." He specifically mentioned the improvement in alignment, pursuit of the ball, and overall effort.

Leadership on the Field

A key difference this spring, according to Sawvel, is the presence of strong leadership, particularly from offensive lineman Caden Barnett. "If something doesn’t go right on a play or two straight plays, that guy’s in charge of getting it right back," Sawvel said. "We didn’t have enough of that last year, and our players will acknowledge that."

Defensively, cornerback Keany Parks is stepping into a leadership role. Sawvel explained that Parks's development is awe-inspiring, given that he transitioned to cornerback during the 2023 season and missed last spring due to shoulder surgery. "Now, he should take a leap, and I see progress. He’s a very good athlete, and very good athletes eventually figure things out."

Focus on Physicality

Defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl is leading the charge with a renewed focus on playing with more aggression. "We've made a big emphasis on just becoming a better football team," Bohl said. "It’s about tackling, getting off blocks, using your hands. The moment I feel we’re physical enough is once we win that first game. Until then, we're going to keep emphasizing it."

With several new players in the defensive backfield, Bohl is working on getting everyone on the same page. "My hair's going to be looking like my dad’s by the end of spring," he joked, referring to his father, former Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl. "But it's fun seeing guys who are green, growing, and learning."

Open Practice on Saturday

Saturday will be the Cowboys’ first full-pad practice of the spring and will also be open to the public at War Memorial Stadium. Stretching begins at 10:15 a.m., with practice running from 10:25 a.m. to around 12:35 p.m. – though Sawvel jokingly warned, "If we don’t practice real well, we’ll be out there until 4:35."

Saturday will be a big day for players returning from injury, such as redshirt sophomore defensive linemen Lucas Samsula. "Saturday will be a big deal for him," Sawvel said of Samsula, who is working his way back from an Achilles injury, and Sawvel explains that spring ball will help him “knock the rust off.” "He’s a promising player, and we’re excited about him."

The momentum of spring 2025 seems to be on an upward trajectory and different from that of 2024.

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