By Scott Nulph
Wyosports 

Cowboys continue to build toward opener

 

August 23, 2016

SHANNON BRODERICK/Wyo Sports Photographer

Wide Receiver Austin Conway pushes against a coach during a drill in Tuesday's practice at War Memorial Stadium.

The University of Wyoming football team walked off War Memorial on Saturday exactly two weeks from the start of the regular season.

Where the Cowboys are in terms of improvement following last year's 2-10 season still remains a question mark with the home opener looming at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 against Northern Illinois.

"Until you get in the middle of the first half of the first game you don't get to see where you're at," Cowboys coach Craig Bohl said. "We're encouraged with more guys and more pieces in play. There's a lot of sophomores out there playing and fewer true freshmen."


Wyoming's pre fall depth chart listed exactly half of the projected starters being either sophomores or redshirt freshmen.

Two weeks into fall that number likely won't change a whole lot before the Cowboys starting preparing for Northern Illinois on Monday.

"Some things are starting to come into play," Bohl said. "I think we're seeing what guys have had the practice repetitions and have been on the field. Some of our assignments have to get cleaned up and that will be important. One thing I noticed on the field, and probably more so on film, is we have more speed on defense. That became apparent with pursuit angles our and tackling ability."


The biggest roster moves so far involve the offensive line.

After starting fall camp with senior Du'Ryan Ebbesen at center, the Cowboys have made a switch with senior left guard Chase Roullier taking over the center spot and freshman Gavin Rush moving into Roullier's spot at left guard.


"It certainly solidifies our line," UW offensive coordinator Brent Vigen said. "He's (Roullier) our best guy and to put him in the middle of the fray from a communications standpoint and from an execution standpoint is positive.

"I think the growth of Gavin Rush is as big a deal in that whole equation as anything."

The main position change last year's team remains at quarterback, with redshirt sophomore Josh Allen taking over the offense. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Allen has all the physical attributes of a top college quarterback. But he played in only 13 plays last season before getting hurt.

"He's coming along in terms of understanding (the offense)," Bohl said. "He has a great deal of confidence, which is good. I think he's going to need to recognize that the level of competition that we're playing, they're going to ball-hawk the ball. He needs to probably listen to coach Vigen a little more, but he's getting better.

"Josh is progressing in our offense and can do good things for us."

Another piece of positive news coming out of camp involves redshirt freshman Austin Conway.

The former Wyoming basketball player has made an impact in his short time with the team after moving over in the spring. Conway had one run for 59 yards Saturday and two punt returns for 34 yards. Bohl said after the scrimmage that the 5-10, 169-pound Conway will likely be Wyoming's main punt returner to start the season.

"I need to have (former UW men's basketball coach) Larry Shyatt evaluate our football players because he's a great evaluator of talent," Bohl said with a smile. "I do think we've found a good football. Austin Conway did some exceptional things today (in the scrimmage."

Wyoming held practice No. 17 of 24 on Monday. This week's schedule includes two-a-days both today and Thursday with the final practice also the team's final scrimmage on Saturday.

 
 

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