By Jeff Bugher
9/17/2024
Laramie, Wyo. - Saturday’s loss to BYU might not have been what Wyoming hoped for, but it marked the introduction of tight end Clay Nanke to Cowboys fans with a catch and run for 24 yards. Nanke, a transfer from Colorado State University, made his first collegiate career catch that turned heads and had people puzzled with a name they hadn’t heard, and now he's ready to tell his story.
Nanke’s journey to Wyoming is similar to other athletes we've interviewed. Clay, a native of Denver, Colo., decided to transfer from Colorado State after feeling like he wasn’t getting the opportunities he deserved. "Just kind of a little bit of a lack of opportunity there," Nanke explained. "I was playing defense. I was at defensive end and kind of got moved back and forth a little bit and kind of never really got to put myself into a position where I'd have an opportunity of playing. I felt like I worked really hard, but just was never really given that opportunity to even go in for a play." While at CSU, Nanke switched to the tight end position during '23 spring ball.
Looking for a fresh start led him to Laramie, where he was open to anything that would get him on the field. "I love defense," he said. "I've always been a defensive guy, and that's kind of because of my coach in high school who instilled that in me. But really, I was just looking for anywhere to play. I didn’t really care if it was defense, offense, special teams, I just wanted to get out on the field."
When Wyoming offered him a chance to play tight end, Nanke jumped at the opportunity...from the dark side of CSU to across the border to Wyoming. "They had a little spot open at tight end, and they were pretty full on the defensive side, so I said, 'I don't care. I just wanted to be there.' That's basically how it went down."
As for what it felt like to make his first reception as a college tight end on Saturday, Nanke was all smiles. "It was awesome. They've got such a great fan base here. The whole state is in love with Wyoming football, and I love that. It was nice to finally make a play and put myself out there. Hopefully, there's some more to come," the redshirt junior said.
Nanke credits the coaching staff at Wyoming for creating a positive environment where he’s felt welcomed from the start. "The players here and the coaching staff have been tremendous. I've never had a staff that wants to relate to the players as much as they do here. It’s a different atmosphere for sure."
One coach in particular has influenced Nanke’s adjustment to the tight end position: tight ends coach Shannon Moore. "He’s one of the nicest coaches I’ve ever met. He has a great attitude about everything, always positive, even when we mess things up. He gets on us, but then he forgets it a second later. He wants us to do our best and keep charging forward."
Nanke also had high praise for his fellow tight end, John Michael Gyllenborg, calling him "a great player" and "one of the best offensive minds" he's seen. "He's very smooth with all of his actions," Nanke noted. "We haven't had him these past few weeks, but moving forward, we’re going to have him back. He’s a great asset to this team."
Despite the team's recent struggles with an 0-3 start to the 2024 season, Nanke sees plenty of positives ahead. "Honestly, I'd say just everyone’s willingness to come back to work the next day. We've had some rough games, but each week, we've come back with a better mindset, just trying to work harder and get better."
Nanke has also been offering words of encouragement to Wyoming quarterback Evan Svoboda, who has faced some criticism. "All I can really say is there’s going to be haters anywhere you go. People are always going to have something to say, even if you play great. Just because you make a few mistakes doesn’t mean you need to stop. I have a lot of faith in Evan, and I think he's going to really come into his own."
For Nanke, Saturday’s reception was just the beginning. "I just want to help this team out," he said. "I'm hoping I can help them a little more, but that specific catch, it was nice to get things going for sure."
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