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LARAMIE -- Tavita Faaiu had no intention to play football at the University of Wyoming.

Faaiu is from American Samoa and grew up in San Francisco.

He hadn’t been to a lot of places in the United States other than California.

UW called last winter and asked if he’s like to come out for a visit.

“Honestly, I just came for the trip,” said Faaiu, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end. “I wanted to use as many visits as I could for the experience. I went on YouTube to try and find out as much about Wyoming as I could. I knew nothing about here.

“Once I got here I found in my heart it was the right place.”

Faaiu was recruited by several colleges out of perennial junior-college power City College of San Francisco.

He was supposed to be a mid-year signee at Oregon State, but Faaiu’s academics prevented it.

UW defensive ends coach AJ Cooper got a call about Faaiu, some phone calls were made, a visit was scheduled and the rest -- as they say -- is history.

Faaiu said there were two factors in his decision to attend UW: Not many distractions in Laramie so he can focus on school and football, and the chance to play right away.

Faaiu will be hard-pressed to pass seniors Eddie Yarbrough and Siaosi Hala’api’api in the starting lineup, but UW wants quality depth behind those two.

The Cowboys also need to do a better job of rushing the passer. Last season they recorded only 14 quarterback sacks in 12 games.

Faaiu had 16.5 sacks by himself last season, which earned him a No. 11 ranking in the country by 247Sports.com in terms of junior college defensive ends from the weak-side of the field.

“Some kids just have the ability to rush the passer,” Cooper said. “He’s athletic and is going to be able to help us. He has good natural strength.

“Tavita is vital for us this season, but what it does is it creates more competition. Guys have got to come out and work every day, not just think they will get their reps in because we only have so many guys.

“We have nine guys at the start of fall camp. I expect Tavita to elevate all of the older guys so they elevate their game.”

Not everything has been easy for Faaiu since he arrived in Laramie this summer. There’s the natural adjustment in terms of weather, altitude, isolation, etc. There also was just getting the basics.

Faaiu stayed alone in the dorms and didn’t have any sheets, blankets or pillows.

He said he slept in his clothes until he could get some.

Those early days were rough, but over time Faaiu said he “learned to love each and every one of my teammates,” and that Cooper is “probably the best coach I’ve ever had.”

“I’ve never been the biggest, strongest or fastest guy. I’ve always had to work that much harder. Now that I’m here, I’m expecting more from myself,” Faaiu added.

Learning the play book, Faaiu said, is one of his biggest challenges.

But one of his biggest fans on the team doesn’t think that’s going to be a problem.

“Tavita is explosive. I’d say he has a top-5 pass rush on this team already,” said Yarbrough, a two-time All-Mountain West defensive end.

“I’m excited for him. His lateral movement is great. His hand are great. Usually, new guys who come in have some holes in their game. He doesn’t have those holes.”

Camp update

Senior running back Shaun Wick remains out. Coach Craig Bohl said Monday that he has some “head issues,” and could be out several days.

UW’s top two wide receivers -- juniors Tanner Gentry and Jake Maulhardt -- were either limited or missed practice with minor injuries.

That gave the Cowboys’ true freshmen more reps, and Bohl said among all of them James Price (6-2, 208) from Camas, Washington, has made the most progress during camp.

Sophomore center Charlie Renfree didn’t practice as he recovers from some heat-related issues. Bohl said junior outside linebacker Lucas Wacha (hamstring) should be back soon. Wacha has been out since after the first practice of camp last week.

The Cowboys practiced in helmets and shoulder pads Monday morning. It had its second two-a-day session of camp in the afternoon.

Media access to players and coaches during all afternoon practices during camp is closed.

UW practices once today at 9 a.m.