LB Gary Rutherford Turns Opportunity Into Production for Wyoming

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Wyoming linebacker Gary Rutherford (#26) works through a drill during practice at War Memorial Stadium. Photo courtesy of UW Athletics

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Three games into the season, Gary Rutherford has already surpassed his 2025 tackle total.

After a career performance at Central Michigan, the sophomore linebacker is quickly becoming one of the most productive players on Wyoming's defense.

Rutherford recorded a career-high and team-leading 13 tackles, including two solo stops and 11 assists, in Wyoming's 24-10 loss to Central Michigan last Saturday. The performance gives Rutherford 27 tackles through Wyoming's first three games, averaging nine per game.

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Rutherford told PokesNews.com the jump in production this year comes from playing fast, and he’s seen it on the tape.

"What I saw right on film was that I was just really just playing fast. What I've been doing in practice is happening on a Saturday. Then just having a whole team all together. If one play goes bad, that's not the end of the game. You still have time. The game is never over until it hits zero. So just playing as a full team, just playing all four quarters," Rutherford said.

Central Michigan ran the ball 59 times for 339 yards, forcing Wyoming's linebackers to spend much of the afternoon trying to slow down a physical rushing attack. Quarterback Angel Flores accounted for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

Rutherford led Wyoming with 13 tackles, while fellow linebacker Dash Bauman finished with 12.

"It was good. It was definitely good. The outcome didn't go how we wanted it, but at the end of the day, just trying to be one person, one key player that adds on and just helps the team win, just helps the team keep going," Rutherford said.

The numbers illustrate just how much Rutherford's role has changed.

As a freshman in 2024, the Peoria, Illinois, native appeared in four games and recorded one tackle while redshirting. He played in all 12 games in 2025, finishing with 15 tackles - eight solo and seven assisted - and one tackle for loss.

Rutherford’s career high entering this season was three tackles against Northern Iowa in 2025. He nearly matched his entire 2025 tackle total in one afternoon at Central Michigan.

Rutherford remains focused on Wyoming's defense playing together, particularly after the Cowboys struggled to contain Flores.

"We really just had to play together, and when we played together, we stopped them every time. But once we played off or certain people weren't doing certain things, then that's when he got away from us," Rutherford said, referring to CMU QB Angel Flores.

The Cowboys allowed 214 rushing yards in the first half as Central Michigan built a 17-0 halftime advantage. Wyoming played better after halftime, but the hole proved too large to overcome.

"Really just playing one snap at a time, and just trying to see what the coaches see. Just play out as a full team, Rutherford said.

On Sunday, following the loss, Wyoming held a players-only meeting as the Cowboys tried to regroup from a 1-2 start and prepare for the start of Mountain West play against Hawaii.

"It was a good meeting. We all just talked, no arguing or anything like that, but we all just tried to see what was going on, and what we should fix. It went well," Rutherford said.

Rutherford sees little value in dwelling on Wyoming's first three games.

"You can never change what's in the past, but you can always change what's coming up in the future. Just how you prepare, stuff like that," Rutherford said.

Wyoming opens Mountain West Conference play on their home turf on Saturday against Hawaii.

"Home turf is most definitely an advantage when you're at the University of Wyoming playing at the altitude that we do. Hawaii has to travel a long way to come up here. So that's going to be good," Rutherford said.

Coming off a career-high, team-leading 13 tackles the last time he stepped on the field.

Now Rutherford wants to turn that production into something more.

Winning.