The Rise Of Wyoming Football Reflected In Development Of Players

Laramie, Wyo. (Aug. 8, 2017) –  The rise of the Wyoming Cowboy Football program is reflected in the development of many young players during the four seasons that Craig Bohl and his coaching staff have led Wyoming Football.

            Numerous players have benefitted from the nutrition and strength and conditioning programs that have been implemented, as well as the coaching that has helped them grow and develop mentally and physically.

            One of the young players who is a perfect example of the development and growth of Cowboy Football is sophomore linebacker Logan Wilson.  Wilson came to the Wyoming Football program from Casper, Wyo., as a freshman in 2015, weighing about 196 pounds.  This fall he is weighing in at 240 pounds — a gain of 44 pounds entering his third year in the program.   As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Wilson was selected as the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and earned First Team Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and USA Today.

            More dynamic weight gains are detailed in the notes below.  Also attached to today’s notes is an updated roster, including updated weights.

            Notes from Tuesday’s eighth practice of fall camp and quotes from head coach Bohl follow.

 

Tuesday’s Practice Notes

            �In terms of injury updates provided by Bohl following Tuesday’s practice, he said that redshirt senior defensive end Trevor Meader didn’t practice on Tuesday due to some swelling in a knee that he had surgery on last year.  Redshirt sophomore running back Kellen Overstreet also saw limited reps.  Bohl said that he expected sophomore wide receiver C.J. Johnson to return to full speed in the near future.

            �One thing that is always interesting to note during fall camp is the weight gains that players have made during summer conditioning.  Here are some of the more impressive weight gains from last spring (or the time they signed if incoming freshmen) to this fall: offensive line freshmen Rudy Stofer (35 pounds), Keegan Cryder (33 pounds) and Logan Harris (33 pounds); freshman tight end Nate Weinman (25 pounds); freshman defensive tackle Javaree Jackson (23 pounds); junior offensive tackle Brinkley Jolly (18 pounds); freshman offensive tackle Alonzo Velazquez (18 pounds); freshman linebacker Victor Jones (15 pounds); redshirt freshman tight end Sam Maughn (15 pounds); freshman wide receiver Jared Scott (15 pounds); freshman punter Tim Zaleski (15 pounds); junior defensive end Carl Granderson (12 pounds); senior offensive tackle Ryan Cummings (11 pounds); and sophomore linebacker Logan Wilson (11 pounds since last spring and 44 pounds since he joined the program as a freshman).

 

Quoting the Coach (Quotes from Head Coach Craig Bohl)

Do You Like the New Practice Format With No Two-A-Day Practices but an Extra Week of Practice?

            “Personally, I prefer this format.  I think it’s a safer format for the players,” said Bohl.  “We’re able to install more, teach more and spread the day’s activities out.

            “Many times, the second practice (of a two-a-day format) by the time you bounced back and evaluated the first practice as a coach you really didn’t get all the teaching opportunities that would like.  When we had two-a-days you did it for 10 days or two weeks and that was it.  Now we are spreading these practices over a month.  Everybody has a different philosophy about this new format this first year, but we are taking the approach to take advantage of every minute, every day, every teaching opportunity to improve our team.”

 

Bohl was Asked About Freshman Wide Receiver Jared Scott and Where He May Fit Into This Year’s Team.

            “Jared (Scott) is a big presence out there,” said Bohl.  “He has extra large hands, and he’s got really good athleticism.  He was an excellent basketball player in Chicago.  As a result, we are taking a hard look at him.  Anytime you can get a big body like that on smaller defensive backs it is a big advantage.”

Do You Think it Has Been a Big Adjustment for Josh Allen to Not Have Tanner Gentry to Throw to This Fall?

            “I think Josh (Allen) has done a good job throwing a lot to our receivers this summer and building a strong relationship with our returning players,” said Bohl.  “There is no doubt that the relationship Tanner (Gentry) and Josh had was a special one.  But I want to applaud Josh, because it isn’t like he’s been walking around lamenting that he doesn’t have Tanner.  We have a whole host of younger receivers who have made plays, and he’s embraced those guys.”

Another Young Receiver That Bohl was Asked About was Avante’ Cox.

            “We certainly are pleased with Avante’ (Cox),” said Bohl.  “He’s got an exceptional ability to come out of a break.  He’s got good hands, and he can make people miss.  I think we’re pretty solidified in our punt returner with Austin (Conway), but Avante’ can provide some depth there, as well.”

Gillette, Wyo., Native Austin Fort is a Tight End That Bohl was Asked to Assess.

            “We were impressed last spring with Austin’s (Fort) ability to run,” said Bohl.  “He’s gained some weight, and we think he is catching the ball better.  He is definitely in the mix at tight end entering this season.”

 

Logan Wilson

Linebacker, 6-2, 240, Sophomore

Casper, Wyo. (Natrona County)

2017 Preseason All-Mountain West Conference

Honors

�2017 Preseason All-Mountain West Conference

�2016 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year

�2016 First Team Freshman All-American, FWAA

�2016 First Team Freshman All-American, USA Today Sports

�2016 MW Defensive Player of the Week vs. Utah State

      UW This Season: Logan Wilson moved to middle linebacker in spring drills after playing weak-side linebacker a season ago.  He will be the leader of a young Wyoming linebacking corps.  2016: Wilson was named a First Team Freshman All-American by both the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and USA Today Sports.  He was selected the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in voting by conference head coaches and media.  Wilson ranked No. 1 among MW freshmen in tackles, averaging 6.7 tackles per game. He had 94 tackles on the year to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.  Those tackles for loss combined for 45 yards.  He also recovered three fumbles and forced one fumble. Wilson was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Utah State, recording seven tackles, one interception for 56 yards and one fumble recovery.  Wilson scored two touchdowns on the season — one on a 27-yard interception return at Eastern Michigan and one on a fumble recovery in the end zone against UNLV.  He tied for the team lead with three interceptions.  Wilson had a personal high 13 tackles at UNLV. 2015: Redshirted.

High School: Wilson was selected to the 2014 Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 Team.  He was named to the Wyoming Coaches Association Class 4A All-State team as a defensive back and wide receiver in both 2013 and 2014, and was selected to the same All-State team as a punter for three consecutive seasons in 2012, `13 and was a unanimous selection in 2014.  As a defensive back, wide receiver and punter, he helped lead Natrona County to an undefeated season and the 2014 Class 4A State Championship.  Wilson was selected to play in the 2015 Shrine Bowl on June 13, 2015, in Casper, Wyo.  He was also part of Natrona County’s 2012 undefeated State Championship team.  His senior season, he had 29 receptions for 493 yards, averaged 17.0 yards per reception and scored seven receiving touchdowns.  As a defensive back, Wilson was credited with 22 total tackles, including 21 solo tackles with 1.0 tackle for loss, five pass breakups and six interceptions.  He also served as NC’s punter, averaging 43.7 yards per punt on 27 punts.  Natrona County led the state of Wyoming in: rushing defense, allowing only 84.6 yards per game; passing defense, giving up only 110.5 yards per game; and total defense, allowing only 195.1 yards per game.  He played for head coach Steve Harshman at Natrona County High School.  Wilson was also recruited by Colorado.  Personal:  He was born on July 8, 1996, and is the son of Trevor and Carla Wilson.  His father, Trevor, wrestled at Dickinson State.  Wilson is majoring in physical education-teaching at Wyoming.