No shot in the dark

Correlations between throwing the shot put and playing football have helped UW freshmen Logan Harris and Javaree Jackson

By Robert Gagliardi

WyoSports

LARAMIE – Although they play different positions, Logan Harris and Javaree Jackson have a lot in common.

Both are true freshmen on the University of Wyoming football team. Harris is a center, Jackson a defensive tackle.

Both will play this season. Harris, who is from Torrington, was named the Cowboys' starter Monday.

Both are big. Harris is listed at 6-foot-3, 308 pounds; Jackson is 6-5, 273.

Both have shown they have the mental and physical abilities to play sooner, rather than later, for the Cowboys, although the biggest test will come in UW's season-opener Sept. 2 at Iowa.

But there is another thing that has helped Harris and Jackson succeed early in their college careers – the ability to throw the shot put.

Harris broke the overall state record on his final throw of the state meet back in May with a toss of 63 feet, 8½ inches. The old record was 63-1 by John Godina of Cheyenne Central in 1990.

Jackson, who went to high school at Wauwatosa West in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, had a personal-best of 59-8½ during his prep career.

Just because someone is good in the shot put doesn't mean they will be a good college football player, but there are correlations between the two.

"It's been our experience through the years that there's a pretty good connect-the-dots among high school guys that have explosion either through the shot put or discus, particularly for a lineman," said fourth-year UW coach Craig Bohl, who enters his 37th year as a college football coach.

"Most of the time, they have lower body explosion and upper body strength. That's a good combination for a football player. Some of it comes down to their football IQ, and with those guys, it translated from being an explosive field guy in track over to football. We're pleased with both of them."

Harris said the importance of learning the technique involved as lineman and throwing the shot put are similar, something he said helped him succeed at both.

"If one thing is off to the littlest degree, everything can get messed up," Harris said. "It all has to be perfected."

Harris had been taking reps with the No. 1 offense at center the past couple of weeks prior to being named the starter. Jackson said coaches told him last week that he would be evaluated more closely in terms of the possibility of him playing this season. Jackson also said last Wednesday the coaches told him he wouldn't be redshirted.

"I was very excited, but I didn't want to show it much because I was told in a meeting, and (interior defensive line coach Pete Kaligis) was pretty mad from practice. I was pretty happy, and in my head, I was like 'wow.'"

Kaligis was an offensive lineman at Washington from 1990-94, and also an All-American in the shot put. He won the gold medal at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival and was third in the 1995 University Games. Kaligis also participated in the 1996 Olympic Trials in the shot put.

Kaligis was unavailable for an interview for this story.

Jackson said the "explosion" in throwing shot put from his hips and lower body helped him be faster with his hands. Obviously, a strong hand and upper body are necessary to throw a 12-pound metal ball.

A term often used in football with linemen is "heavy hands," and if a coach describes a lineman that way, it's a good thing.

UW coaches have used that term to describe both Harris and Jackson.

When asked what heavy hands means to them, Harris said: "Landing your strikes. You can move your hands, but once they stick, they stick."

Added Jackson: "Try not to get them knocked back by an opposing player. Grab a player as fast as you can."

You can bet the things Harris and Jackson learned in throwing the shot put will translate to the football field this season and in seasons to come.

Price out

Bohl said Tuesday that junior wide receiver James Price will be out for about six weeks with a broken left clavicle. Price suffered the injury in last Saturday's scrimmage. He watched Tuesday's practice with his left arm in a sling.

Price was listed as a starter at one of UW's two wide receiver spots, and Bohl said he was emerging as a leader among the Cowboys' receiving corps.

Price 25 of 26 games over his first two seasons, but has only 18 catches for 218 yards and one touchdown.

Sophomore John Okwoli is listed as Price's backup. Okwoli played in all 14 games in 2016 but didn't catch a pass. Bohl said true freshman Jared Scott, who is 6-6, 230, could become more involved in UW's passing game while Price is out.

Bohl said Tuesday there were no other new injuries. However, junior tight end Austin Fort (knee), sophomore defensive end Shiloh Windsor (concussion) and sophomore defensive tackle Brent Gilliland (concussion) remain out.

Practice report

UW's 20th practice of fall camp was in full pads Tuesday in War Memorial Stadium. Bohl said the Cowboys did some two-minute and inside run work.

Bohl described Iowa as a "very physical, well-coached and excellent football program." Tuesday was UW's first practice in full pads this week, and when asked if there will be more like it leading up to the Iowa game, Bohl said: "We're going to go. We're going forward."

NFL scouts from the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins were at practice. A scout from the Cleveland Browns was at Monday's practice.