Quarterback Room “In a Good Place” as Spring Winds Down
- Jeff Bugher
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
LARAMIE, Wyo—Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel liked what he saw Thursday. The Cowboys completed their 11th practice session of spring football, and Sawvel is yet again pleased with his team's progress.
Thursday’s practice was really good, and they got a lot accomplished, said Sawvel. “A lot of good stuff on both sides of the ball,” Sawvel said.
One of Thursday's bright spots was the performance of some young offensive linemen. Sawvel specifically pointed out redshirt freshman Braylon Jenkins and junior Rex Johnsen as two players taking positive steps forward.
“Braylon Jenkins — I think he's a plus athlete in the O-line. We're starting to see some good things show from him, which is a big deal,” Sawvel said. “And Rex Johnsen, I see improvement out of him daily.”
The Cowboys will return to War Memorial Stadium on Saturday for another live session, though the format will be a little different from last week’s scrimmage.
“We’ll go live,” Sawvel said. “It’ll be different format than last week — not just a straight scrimmage. We’re going to do live team periods, but there will also be some true practice mixed in. We’ll have officials.”
Stretching begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by individual work at 10:40. The session is expected to run until about 12:45 p.m.
Newcomer Making an Impact
Offseason addition— safety Desman Hearns — has caught Sawvel’s eye this spring.
Hearns, a transfer from Southern Illinois, has also impressed with his physicality and competitive nature.
“The first film we watched of him was against BYU, and he played well,” Sawvel said. “He’s physical — that’s what I love about him. He’ll strike you. He competes. He works his tail off every day.”
Progress Across the Board
With 11 sessions now complete, Sawvel believes the team is taking tangible strides — especially in the trenches and secondary.
“I’m pleased with the defensive tackles,” he said. “Dante Drake, Samsula, Caleb Robinson — they’re coming along. I think Ben Florentine is playing really well, too.”
Sawvel praised the depth and development in the defensive backfield as well.
“You’ve got guys like Brooklyn Cheek, Desman Hearns, Justin Taylor, and then the returning guys — Tyrese [Boss], Marquez Grant — and I see promise with all that,” he said.
Wide receivers and tight ends have also shown growth, and Sawvel noted the quarterback room is in a good place from a leadership and preparation standpoint.
“Our quarterbacks — Kaden Anderson, Landon Sims, Mason Drube — they know the offense. They know where they’re going with the ball. Mason had a really good day today,” he said.
Landon Sims Surprising in a Good Way
Quarterback Landon Sims, a junior college transfer with a football pedigree, is making a name for himself.
“When we recruited Landon, we thought he threw the ball really well,” Sawvel said. “I didn’t know what we were getting athletically. He didn’t run much in junior college.”
That perception has quickly changed.
“He’s a much better athlete than what I thought we were getting,” Sawvel said. “He’s the son of a coach, so he’s lived football his whole life. When he wakes up in the morning, football is what drives him. His spirit, attitude, and demeanor — I’m really happy with where he’s at.”
With four more practices and a spring game still on the horizon, the Cowboys continue to build under Sawvel’s leadership. And if Thursday’s session is any indication, the pieces are beginning to come together.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Sawvel said. “Coaches, players, the whole deal. But I like what I see.”
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