Welcome to Wyoming Football: Chandler Donaway
LARAMIE -- Wyoming, once again, has welcomed nearly 50 new faces to the roster this offseason.
Transfer portal era, am I right?
Jay Sawvel again made a list of 10 "keepers" last December, heading into free agency. Running back Samuel "Tote" Harris was, no doubt, high on that list. So were defensive tackles Dante Drake and Jayden Williams. The Cowboys' third-year head coach also wanted to hang on to players like tight end Jake Wilson, wideout Deion DeBlanc, nickel corner Desman Hearns and offensive tackles Rex Johnsen and Braylon Jenkins, among others.
Mission accomplished. All are back for another round on the high plains.
The team did lose its top-four outside targets, including leading receiver Chris Durr Jr., who is now at Maryland. Two impact cornerbacks also hit the open market. Tyrese Boss is at Arizona. Markie Grant headed west to former conference rival Utah State.
Wyoming will also have a new quarterback under center, snagging William and Mary graduate transfer Tyler Hughes, who has one season of eligibility remaining. The hope is he'll right the ship at that spot, keeping the seat warm for Gillette's Mason Drube.
The Cowboys also reloaded in the offensive backfield and at the line of scrimmage, adding 1,000-yard rusher Markell Holman and interior linemen Chandler Donaway, Jason Maciejcak and Jeremiah Katt.
You'll read all about those guys, along with 20-plus freshmen, in this summer series: Welcome to Wyoming football.
NAME | Chandler Donaway
YEAR | Senior
HT/WT | 6',1", 307
HOMETOWN | Klein, Texas
POSITION | Offensive lineman
JERSEY NUMBER | 52
PREVIOUS SCHOOL | East Texas A&M
YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | One
NOTABLE | If there's one offensive lineman you can almost pencil in the opening-day lineup it's Chandler Donaway. He could be starting at left guard when the Cowboys take on Border War rival Colorado State Sept. 5 inside Canvas Stadium. In fact, he even knew that date. And this -- "We're keeping the boot in Laramie." Donaway allowed just two sacks and 14 pressures during his five-year stint in Commerce. That damage -- or lack thereof -- came on 1,428 career snaps. He started 21 games for the Lions and appeared in six more, showing his versatility across the front five. In-state programs like UTEP and Rice wanted him. So did Southern, South Alabama and Toledo. One unnamed source told 7220sports.com during the spring that Donaway is far more talented than Wes King, who last offseason entered the transfer portal and is now at West Virginia.
QUOTABLE | "He's really good. That's what sticks out about him. Even the first day, without pads on, I was like, 'This guy's not bad.' Well, once you've got pads on and kind of see him on a day-to-day basis, I mean, we've got a good player there. He fights and competes every period, every drill. Football is really, really important to Chandler. He's a grown up, too. I mean, this is a guy that, he's a man, but also, I think that there was still physical development to be made. He's doing things now that he had never done, training-wise, before. So, the hope is that he has a great, great summer and that he can be even a better player in the fall than what he is right now," -- UW head coach Jay Sawvel on Chandler Donaway
WELCOME TO WYOMING SUMMER SERIES:
* LB - Anthony Beavers Jr.
* S - Jett Vincent
* WR - Justin Popovich
* QB - Tyler Hughes
* CB - Junus McGraw
* RB - Markell Holman
* CB - Logan Mackey
* S - Travis Franklin Jr.
* WR - Jayden Williams
* LB - Karson Butts
* S - Da'Marion Brownlee
* CB - Kendall Griffin
* RB - Diore Hubbard
* DE - Jack Dunkley
* S - Therman 'Boogie' Williams
* LB - Mason Wright
* DT - Ja'Quan Redfern
* DT - Tanielu Maafala-Barbasa
* DE - Thaddeus Gianaris
MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:
* Brooklyn Cheek Eyeing Starting Gig in UW Secondary
* Drake's Love Affair With Football Rekindled Through Adversity
* Richardson Has Coming-Out Party in Pokes' Spring Game
* Cowboy Offense Finds End Zone Five Times in Spring Game Victory
* Pokes' Latest Downfield Threat May Have Been on Roster All Along
* Wyoming Teammates on Johnathan Bush: 'He's Our Psycho'
* Josh Allen to Tyler Hughes: Wyoming Football 'One Step Away'
* New UW President on Athletics: 'We Will Compete'
* Landon Sims: 'You Can't Get Rid of Me That Easy'
* Sawvel Believes This Could Be His Best Defense at Wyoming
* Lofty Expectations Ahead for Desman Hearns
* Wyoming's Staff Expecting Inside Dominance From Jayden Williams
* PJ Jackson Looks an Awful Lot Like a Former UW Receiver
* Are the Cowboys Really Flirting With Adding an Option Attack?
Just The Facts: Size Doesn't Matter For Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- Just The Facts: Size Doesn't Matter For Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium