Markell Holman Bringing Production, Perspective to Wyoming Backfield
- Jeff Bugher
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Senior running back Markell Holman, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a long way from home - both in distance and lifestyle. Wyoming’s small population stands in sharp contrast to the big-city environment he grew up in.
How is Holman adjusting to “rural” life in Laramie?
“I must say I like it,” Holman said. “The people are very welcoming, so it's...like a second home. I adapted fast and really got acclimated quickly, so I'm actually grateful to be out here and loving it.”
Holman brought experience and production with him when he made the trek to Laramie.
Markell transferred to Wyoming in the offseason from Western Illinois, where he had an outstanding junior campaign. He rushed for 1,063 yards, led the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing, recorded five 100-yard games, and totaled nine touchdowns. He also added 39 receptions for 314 yards, adding to his talents as also a pass-catching back.
It’s safe to say that new offensive coordinator Christian Taylor is salivating with Holman’s presence in the lineup. Especially since Taylor is known for creative playcalling.
Prior to Western Illinois, Holman made a couple more stops. His sophomore year was spent at Saint Francis in 2024, where he recorded 577 rushing yards and six touchdowns, along with 155 receiving yards. As a freshman at Lackawanna College in 2023, he totaled 340 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Holman told PokesNews.com that his decision to choose Laramie came down to one thing - people.
“It was really the people,” Holman said. “They made me feel comfortable, being so far away from home. They made it feel like I'm at home.”
“They made me feel like I was accepted,” he added. “Then on top of that, when you talk like future goals, just everything from the strength staff, the coaching staff, and like teammates, like everybody was on the path that I wanted to be on.”
Holman had his chance to pick Wyoming last year, but he decided to choose a different route. When he entered the portal this time, he knew he wanted to pick Wyoming.
As stated earlier, Holman has been around several collegiate programs.
How does Wyoming stack up?
“It's amazing,” Holman said of Wyoming’s facilities. “They've got everything you need and more from nutrition to strength staff to football, you've got a lot of different people you can talk to about a lot of different things… you've really got everything. There’s no excuses.”
The running back room is led by running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell.
“Flea is a great guy,” Holman said of his running backs coach. “He's going to coach you hard. He's going to make sure, you know, you on your P's and Q's on and off the field. I respect that… he showed that he really cares.”
Two of Wyoming’s top three running backs are no longer a part of the equation. Sam Scott played out his eligibility, and Terron Kellman transferred to Liberty. The leading producing running back on the roster is Samuel “Tote” Harris. Sawvell has always talked about having a deep running back room, and Markell is a strong addition.
Markell tells us the team bonds are strong, and there’s a brotherhood amongst everyone.
What fans can expect to see from Markell Holman at War Memorial Stadium this fall?
“A lot of plays,” Holman said. “We’re here to make plays, a lot of explosive plays and get points on the board. It’s going to be different than what it was last year.”
So far, you’ve gotten to know Markell’s life on the football field, but what is life like for him off the field?
“Besides me playing sports, like I'm not a big sports guy,” he said. “I don't watch sports as much as people think I would.”
Instead, he enjoys traveling and experiencing new things.
“I really like to just experience things and travel… get in my comfort zone,” Holman said.
“I like to watch movies. I'm a big movie critic.”
Remember the stunning contrast we wrote about earlier in this article, comparing Philadelphia’s population and urban feel to Wyoming ‘s sparse population and nature? Markell is still pinching himself as he adjust to the majestic beauty of Wyoming.
“It’s definitely different,” Holman said. “I step outside and I see a mountain right behind my house… I like the peacefulness, and I feel like it's fewer distractions… I’ve got more than enough time to think about ball and be about ball.”
That focus could pay dividends this fall.
About the Author:
Jeff Bugher is a third-generation Wyomingite living in Casper, Wyoming. He is a sportswriter and Wyoming Cowboys/Cowgirls enthusiast who is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA ) and the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). Jeff's work has been cited by Sports Illustrated, one of the world's leading sports publications.
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