Freshman WR Deion DeBlanc’s First Touchdown Marks Turning Point in Wyoming Career
- Jeff Bugher
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Freshman wide receiver Deion DeBlanc scored his first collegiate touchdown last Saturday against UNLV. It was a moment he’ll never forget.
DeBlanc was upset because he didn’t correctly field a punt earlier in the game, but his shot for redemption came, and he took full advantage of it by rushing for 12-yards for the score at the 12:46 mark in the third quarter…the only score by either team in the third.
“It felt amazing getting in the end zone because that’s just something I dreamed of as a little kid,” DeBlanc said. “Before that, I was just like, man, I messed up on the play. I’ve got to get this back somehow, some way. So when my name was called, just crossing the goal line, I was just like, ‘Oh yeah, I did it. I did what I told my coaches I was going to do.’ It was just like a mission accomplished.”
The play was a rush that showcased DeBlanc’s speed, and was a glimpse into what Wyoming coaches and his teammates have been seeing in flashes from the freshman during spring and fall camp. His burst through the edge stood out even more considering the conditions inside War Memorial Stadium that night.
Was it snow?
Nope.
It was a flash “hail storm” that accumulated so much that it looked like snow.
Has DeBlanc ever played in a football game on snow or hail? “That’s my first time ever,” DeBlanc said when asked about playing in snow and hail. “I’m from Texas, so I got to Laramie in January and that was my first time seeing snow ever. But playing in hail, I honestly thought I’d never have to do that. So when it started coming down, people were telling me that it was snowing outside [turns out it was hail], I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m gonna have to do this for the first time.’”
Despite the unfamiliar weather, DeBlanc’s speed cut through the elements with ease.
Head coach Jay Sawvel spoke about the possibility that Deion might redshirt earlier this season, a plan that kept him out of a game, yet it’s obvious the plan changed.
“My thoughts were just if I wasn’t going to play, I was just trying to do what was best for me and save a year if I wasn’t going to play as much,” he explained. “It wasn’t really a knock on the coaches or anything. I was just trying to save a year. But I had talked to all the older guys, and they were just like, ‘Just go ahead and play with us because we feel like we got a good football team this year.’”
That advice, paired with his trust in his head coach, helped DeBlanc make his decision.
“I was gonna leave it up to him because I trust Coach. That’s why I came here,” DeBlanc said. “Whatever he wanted to do, I was gonna let him do it.”
Now that he has his first touchdown under his belt, DeBlanc is eager to keep contributing.
“Whatever coaches want me to do, that’s what I’m here for. Every time my name’s called, you best believe I’m ready to go.”
Head coach Jay Sawvel spoke highly of the young receiver following the game, noting that DeBlanc’s development has been noticeable in recent weeks.
“Deion’s a really good athlete,” Sawvel said. “We’ve seen him on a come here recently where his level of play has picked up. I think he’s going to be a good player for us — he really is. There’s a lot of things that he can do. He had a couple of catches, had the sweep touchdown. He’s going to be a good player for us. I’m glad he’s here and I’m glad that the lights are turning on for him in a positive way.”
With a team that is desperate to make things happen and win games, DeBlanc will likely be another piece of the puzzle.
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