‘I’ll Do Anything to Be on the Field’: Nanke Embraces WR Role
- Jeff Bugher
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 29 minutes ago
LARAMIE, Wyo. — Clay Nanke didn’t expect to be catching passes as a wide receiver this spring. But then again, college football is full of unpredictability… just look at the House settlement. For the senior, a new position offers a fresh opportunity—and a final season to make an impact on the field.
It all started with what Nanke thought was a lighthearted conversation with wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight.
“I had a conversation with Coach Bouknight, and at first, I thought he was just kind of messing around,” Nanke said with a smile. Then the next week, he brought me into his office and asked if I wanted to make the change. I told him, ‘I’ll do anything to be on the field.’ So I said yes.”
At CSU, Nanke was initially a defensive end before switching over to tight end during the spring of 2023. Nanke transferred to Wyoming before the 2024 season.
Head coach Jay Sawvel gave some insight into the decision from the staff’s perspective.
“Clay Nanke—his strengths are that he runs well and he catches the ball well,” Sawvel said. “His in-line, in-the-box blocking, that wasn’t his biggest strength. And when you move Svoboda over there, you’ve got Jake Wilson coming, and guys like Gyllenborg. You start looking at it like, ‘How many guys do we want stacked up at that spot?’”
Sawvel credited Bouknight for pushing the idea and seeing the potential in Nanke as a pass catcher.
“Coach Bouknight’s pretty good at recruiting on our team,” Sawvel said. “He kept planting a little seed about Nanke, and I like Clay out there. He’s got a lot of improving to do, but today was good [following Saturday’s scrimmage]. We put the ball down, coaches off the field, and he had to go out there and do it. That’s when you really see what players are made of.”
Nanke is embracing the challenge of learning a new position, but he’s in good hands under Bouknight, a Wyoming legend in his own right and one of the most respected receivers in program history.
“Oh, certainly,” Nanke said. “He’s a great coach. I’ve never really had a wide receivers coach before—someone so technical. It’s all about the route running and the details. He’s been great, giving pointers every day. I couldn’t ask for more.”
The transition hasn’t come without growing pains.
“I’m not used to running this many routes,” Nanke admitted. “My body isn’t quite used to it yet, but it’s getting there. It’s definitely a different style of blocking too, but I still get to hit, so I’ll enjoy that part for sure.”
While adjusting to a new position, Nanke is also preparing for his last season in college football.
“This is my last season, so I’m going to put everything I have out there,” he said. “I’ve never had a winning season in college. I’ve never even been to a bowl game. So I’m going to do everything in my power to make every play count.”
That effort will include working with a rotating cast of quarterbacks this spring, including Kaden Anderson.
“I really like working with Kaden. I knew the type of player he was last year,” Nanke said. “It’s not too crazy adjusting to different quarterbacks—I’ve dealt with that before. It’s just about building chemistry.”
Any regrets about going to CSU first?
“100%. Honestly, I think I should have made the decision to come here right out of high school,” he said. “But I’ve learned a lot along the way, and I’m grateful for the journey. I’m really happy to be here now—I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Clay Nanke has faced change and challenges throughout his career, so his newest position change is going to be the right fit at the right time.
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