LARAMIE, Wyo. (Nov. 14, 2024) - Quarterback Kaden Anderson wasn’t the only player sparking the Cowboy offense against New Mexico two weeks ago. Running back Harrison Waylee also provided a spark during his return to the field, proving why he’s one of the Cowboys’ electrifying playmakers. Waylee suffered a knee injury in a scrimmage during fall camp, leaving him sidelined. Waylee’s return against New Mexico came at a critical time, as it was announced pregame that running back Sam Scott would be out due to a lower extremity injury. Scott has been Wyoming’s leading rusher with 424 yards this season, filling a big void with DJ Jones and Waylee out. Yet, Waylee returned with purpose, rushing for 170 yards on 27 carries and scoring a touchdown in the Cowboys’ 49-45 victory over the Lobos.
Waylee said that his return wasn’t perfect, and he felt “rusty.” "Yeah, I definitely was a little rusty," Waylee admitted. "There’s a lot of things that I don’t know, like if I wasn’t rusty yet. I just have to knock the rust off and come back to being me."
A Carefully Planned Comeback
Waylee’s decision to return for the final four games of the ’24 season was calculated. Once the writing was on the wall that his injury would leave him sidelined for a while, he collaborated with head coach Jay Sawvel to limit his games and have a medical redshirt this season. By doing so, Waylee ensured he would have eligibility for next season while still making an impact this season. Harrison told us he will be staying at Wyoming for another season. Per NCAA rules, an athlete can participate in up to four games in a given season and not have the season count against their eligibility.
"I want to play," Waylee said. "That was the biggest decision. I want a full season, so I sat down and talked to [Coach Sawvel]... He said I had to be 110% before he’d put me in. I’m 110% now or even better than that."
Fire Fueled from the Sidelines
Watching from the sidelines wasn’t in Waylee's plan when he entered fall camp, but he was forced to do so following his injury. Waylee described the experience as both humbling and motivating."It definitely was just lighting a fire in me because I wanted to go out there and play," he shared. "It felt weird being on the sidelines, but I’m a big team guy. I enjoyed it like I was watching a college game as a fan. But I wanted to be out there."
Waylee’s leadership was evident even when he wasn’t suited up; we observed him cheering on his teammates during warmups at home games. "I feel like a bunch of people on the team kinda look up to me," he said. "But I don’t want them to treat me differently because of accolades. I just want to lead and be one of them."
Praising the Running Back Corps
While sidelined, Waylee watched teammate Sam Scott step up in the backfield, delivering key plays in his absence. "Sam was the one who really started the whole run game for us," Waylee said. "He’s improved a lot from last year... He’s like our machine, our guy that does everything—our super back."
He also told us about the growth of Jamari Ferrell, who had one of his best games recently. "He’s come a long way from last year. I feel like his best game is still coming up very, very soon," Waylee predicted.
The Impact of Kaden Anderson
Waylee’s admiration for redshirt freshman quarterback Kaden Anderson for injecting energy into the offense during the New Mexico game is evident. "The way he plays, we all feed off that," Waylee said. "He’s a playmaker, and he knows how to get the ball to the team’s playmakers. He definitely brought new life to the offense."
Looking Ahead
Despite his strong return, Waylee is already focused the next games on the schedule. His primary goal for next season is simple: stay healthy. "My main focus is to stay healthy throughout the whole year and off-season," he said.
Waylee’s return to action is a shot in the arm for the Cowboys’ offense as they prepare for their upcoming rivalry game against Colorado State. With his sights set on finishing the season strong, Waylee is poised to leave a lasting impact—both on the field and in the locker room.
"Winning gives you a sweet taste in your mouth," Waylee said, summing up the team’s recent triumph. "The energy is high, and we’re ready to keep it going."
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