The Wyoming Cowboys football team reviewed the progress of its secondary positions during spring practice, according to an April 30 update from head coach Jay Sawvel. The team has worked to improve depth and talent after injuries impacted key players last season.
The topic is important because the secondary struggled with injuries in the previous year, exposing a lack of depth. Both starting safeties missed significant time, which affected defensive performance. In response, coaches have focused on recruiting and developing players for these positions.
Sawvel said there is now more competition among defensive backs than at any point since he joined the program. “I like that room,” Sawvel said. “There’s more talent and competition in that room than there’s been at any time since I’ve been here.” Returning starters Desman Hearns and Jones Thomas performed well last season, contributing interceptions and tackles for the team. Sawvel described Hearns as having “the best combination of everything” among nickel backs during his tenure.
Thomas, a redshirt junior free safety, commented on his growing leadership role: “I’ve been here the longest and it’s just nice to have that role and help out the new guys with things. It feels good.” He added that he is working on improving his tackling technique to better stop opponents’ forward progress.
Brooklyn Cheek stood out at strong safety this spring after transferring from California last year. Safeties coach Jason Petrino said about Cheek’s adjustment: “I think when he came in he expected to be the guy, and he had to work and earn it.” Other players pushing for playing time include Travis Franklin Jr., Da’Marion Brownlee, David Leonard, Kaiden Kimble-Turner, and Elvin Ampofo.
At cornerback, sophomore Tyson Shamsid-Deen has shown promise as a potential high-level starter in the Mountain West Conference. New cornerbacks coach JB Hall said of Shamsid-Deen: “He has the skillset to be a dominant corner… If he pushes himself and we push him he can be a guy that just stays out there.” True freshmen Kendall Griffin and Therman Williams also made strong first impressions during early enrollment this spring.
Sawvel concluded by expressing optimism about future additions: “In the long term, if I said ‘OK, in our freshman class Kendall Griffin and Boogie Williams are two of our corners,’ that’s a pretty good group.” The Cowboys expect Kanye Anderson to join Griffin and Williams as part of their 2026 recruiting class later this summer.
