Seven Cowboys Earn Spots on Phil Steele’s 2025 Preseason All-MW Teams

Jeff Bugher
Jun 18
3 min read

Updated: Jun 20

First Team Selection Caden Barnett (2024). Photo by Ian Cadena, PokesNews.com

Seven Wyoming Cowboy football players were selected in Phil Steele’s 2025 Preseason All-Mountain West selections, with players earning recognition across all four team groups. Senior offensive tackle Caden Barnett landed on the First Team after starting all 12 games in 2024 and bringing 36 games of experience into his final season. Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, center Jack Walsh, and long snapper Carson York each earned Second Team honors. Rising young linebacker Gary Rutherford was named to the Third Team. Wide receiver Jaylen Sargent, defensive end Tyce Westland, and defensive tackle Jayden Williams rounded out the group on the Fourth Team.

First Team

#72 Caden Barnett - Offensive Tackle - Senior - Justin, Texas
- 6-foot-5, 320 pounds
- 36 career games, 22 starts heading into 2025
- Started all 12 games in 2024
- Key veteran presence on the offensive line
- Big size, versatility, and consistency

Second Team

#84 John Michael Gyllenborg - Tight End - Senior - Leawood, Kan.
- 6-foot-5, 250 pounds
- Ranked #5 overall for draft-eligible tight ends by Phil Steele for 2026
- 56 career receptions for 806 yards and 6 TDs across 34 games
- 2024: Led team in receiving yards per game (47.2), tied for lead in TD catches (3)
- Career-best 137-yard game vs. San Jose State - most by a UW TE since 2016
- Scored game-winner vs. Washington State
- Second Team All-MW and PFF’s highest-graded MW tight end in 2024
- Academic All-MW honoree
#79 Jack Walsh - Center - Senior - Palatine, Ill.
- 6-foot-3, 315 pounds
- Transitioning to center for 2025
- 25 starts over the last two seasons
- 2024: Over 650 snaps without a sack allowed; 20+ pancake blocks
- Graded No. 25 guard in the nation, 4th in MW by PFF
- Contributed to a 604-yard game vs. WSU and a 342-yard passing day
- 2023: Started all 13 games; part of the Joe Moore Award midseason watch list
- Son of former UW player John Walsh (1987-88 WAC champion)
#52 Carson York - Long Snapper - Senior - McKinney, Texas
- 6-foot-1, 219 pounds
- 30 career appearances
- Snapped for All-MW kicker John Hoyland in 2024
- Logged two tackles and a fumble recovery in punt coverage last season
- Former top-10 national long snapper recruit

Third Team

#26 Gary Rutherford - Linebacker - Redshirt Freshman - Peoria, Ill.
- 6-foot-1, 231 pounds
- Played in 4 games in 2024, preserved redshirt
- Recorded first career tackle vs. Colorado State
- Former three-star recruit, top-60 player in Illinois

Fourth Team

#8 Jaylen Sargent - Wide Receiver - Senior - Logan, Utah
- 6-foot-2, 186 pounds
- 2024: 23 receptions for 480 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Ranked 2nd in MW for yards per reception (23.3) in league play
- Career-high 186-yard game vs. New Mexico – most by a UW WR since 2012
- 317 yards over the final 3 conference games
- Former three-star recruit
#40 Tyce Westland - Defensive End - Senior - Pleasanton, Neb.
- 6-foot-5, 245 pounds
- 2024: 41 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks – all career highs
- Started six games, including the final 5
- Career-high 8 tackles twice (Utah State, CSU)
- Strip sack sealed a win over New Mexico
- Returned fumble 61 yards vs. UNLV in 2023
- Played 8-man football under father/head coach Ricci Westland
#98 Jayden Williams - Defensive Tackle - Sophomore - Bryan, Texas
- 6-foot-3, 302 pounds
- Played all 12 games in 2024, 1 start
- 28 total tackles (14 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss
- Career-high 7 tackles vs. Colorado State
- Rushed for 17 yards on a fake punt vs. Air Force