SB Nation - Alvester Alexander

Texas Football 2012: Mack Brown Press Conference / Week 1 - Wyoming

TXStampede — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:00:30 -0000

Mack Brown will meet the press at 11:00 a.m. local time today. Watch the streaming presser live on TexasSports.TV.

With fall camp finishing up over the weekend, expect much of the discussion today cleaning up where we last left off....

Notables:

Expect news on the status of LHN carriage negotiations but don't expect it to be good.

Injuries:

Mike Davis - As per his twitter timeline, he's ready.
Jaxon Shipley - No reports citing update except Mack Brown's declaration last Wednesday "he could play if game were today".

And then all eyes turn to the most important game of this upcoming season. The next one.

Wyoming

Head Coach: Dave Christensen (4th year)

2011 Season: 8-5
Bowl Game: New Mexico Bowl (Lost to Temple 15-37)

Returning Starters: 14 (8 defense; 6 offense)

Wyoming players to watch:

Offense -
Brett Smith - Returning quarterback. Threw for 2,622 yards and 20 TD's last season. Ended year with 124.64 passer rating. Also led Wyoming in rushing with 139 carries for 850 yards.

Chris McNeill anchors an experience wide receiver corps (2011 stats: 56 yds/game; 12 yds/catch; 4 TD's; 504 yds). Ogbanna and Ruffin had similar numbers. Needless to say, Smith is more than adept and spreading the ball around.

Gone is running back Alvester Alexander. Carries for the 2012 backfield will be divvied up between Miller, Sutton, and Kankolongo.

Defense -
With eight returning starters, the Cowboys are stacked with experience. They have three seniors along the front line, anchored by tackle Patrick Murtens, and may prove tough going early on. Cornerbacks Burns and Huff are rated as physical.

TXs Keys to the Game:

Offense -
Get our passing game going as this is the time of year to get as many ‘live' game reps as possible. Deep balls to Goodwin are preferable.

Defense -
Stop Brett Smith. That means contain up the middle and exploit the edge. Look for Alex Okafor to make a statement to the league in this game.

Special Teams -
Hopefully the Longhorns will get a lot of chances to kick off. This is a fine measurement of just how significant Nick Jordan's leg really is.

Join us here for live presser notes.

Hook ‘em

WYO RB Kody Sutton Leaves Team, K Daniel Sullivan Returns

The Road — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:04:51 -0000

This afternoon Wyoming released a press release detailing the scrimmage on Saturday. It featured both shocking positive and negative news.

After a paragraph complementing the play of Brandon Miller and the freshmen duo of D.J. May and Shaun Wick was a sentence with the loss of a key returner.

Christensen announced on Thursday that sophomore running back Kody Sutton has decided to leave the program for personal reasons.

That is all the information the school will probably ever say on the situation. On his twitter account Sutton said that he some family things going on and needed to head back home. He mentioned on August 2nd that his mom got sick right before he left for fall camp.

So grateful for UW and the Poke fans. I wish my teammates the best on there conference championship run!! Ima be the pokes biggest fan!!!
— Kody smoody Sutton (@SmoodySutton) August 17, 2012

In 2011 Sutton appeared in seven games, rushing 30 times for 146 yards. In the first scrimmage of fall camp he ran for 15 yards on six carries.

There was some positive news in the release is that sophomore kicker Daniel Sullivan has rejoined the team. He had been expected to redshirt this year after dealing with a medical issue.

The Cowboys are now down to just three healthy scholarship running backs with the loss of Sutton. The injury to Nehemie Kankalongo is an even bigger blow now. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with an arm injury suffered in the first scrimmage.

It is amazing how deeply the running back position has flip-flopped in a year. Last August we were looking at a very experienced group led by Alvester Alexander, Ghaali Muhaamad and Sutton. None of them are an option at this point. I loved Muhammad at running back last year and would love for him to make the switch back. I don't have a say in the situation though.

This scrimmage will be very important to see who the team plugs into the running back group. Zaquoya Parham is a walk on but still had seven carries for 14 yards in the first scrimmage. Tedder Easton got several carries in spring drills, he may be another candidate. Seems like Sutton is likely to end up UTSA. He has a friend on the roster and is now following several UTSA accounts on twitter.

Don't let the tough news about Sutton stop you from celebrating the return of Sullivan. Last week it was considered "90%" that he would redshirt, now he is back practicing with the team. Even if he doesn't play this year, the fact he is considered healthy enough to resume football activities is a huge achievement. Great to have more depth at kicker and give the special forces a lift.

I was expecting this to be a slow news afternoon. That certainly turned out to be wrong.

When Will Wyoming Have It's Next 1000 Yard Rusher Or Receiver?

The Road — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:47:09 -0000

There are certain performance levels that football players love to reach. Quarterbacks strive to exceed 300 passing yards and running backs want to pile up 100 yard games. Having one or two performances reaching those levels is great. Performing at a consistent level for an entire season is even harder to do. For wide receivers and running backs the 1,000 yard plateau is always a high level goal.

Wyoming has fielded a football team since 1893 and during that time only a few athletes have broken that 1,000 yard mark. To be exact only eight Cowboy running backs and four receivers have exceeded the 1k mark in a single season.

Devin Moore was the most recent member with his 1,301 rushing yards in 2008. Jovon Bouknight caught 77 passes for 1,115 yards back in 2005.

Under Dave Christensen the spread offense is meant to be a high powered system that puts up plenty of yards and points. The Pokes had their best offensive output in 2011 by averaging over 26 points per game and breaking 5,000 total yards. It allows for plenty of yards on the ground and in the air and really a Cowboy could break 1000 yards in either one.

In the three years of the Christensen era only three players have broken the 700 yard mark in rushing or receiving.

2011 - Brett Smith: 710 yards rushing
2010 - Alvester Alexander: 792 yards rushing
2009 - David Leonard: 705 yards receiving

In a twelve game regular season it takes an average of 83.33 yards per game to reach 1000 yards. Smith and Leonard both needed to play in the New Mexico Bowl to break the 700 yard mark. Alexander nearly broke 800 yards in a year that the Cowboy offense really struggled and went 3-9.

This year the Cowboys return Smith who was their leading passer and rusher as a true freshmen. There has been some sentiment that they want to protect Smith and not have him run the ball as much this year. Obviously you don't want him to get hurt. However, you don't want to limit one of your biggest offensive weapons. Smith is very quick with his cuts and knows when to slide. I wouldn't say that he is reckless when rushing with the ball. He won't need to wear gloves on both hands which should also help his grip and reduce fumbles.

Smith also has the jets to pick up plenty of yards. As evidenced in the game against New Mexico, he is faster then the Lobo defensive backs.

Remember this touchdown run? (2:38) (NICKELBACK ALERT)

47 players ran for over 1000 yards in 2012, there were three FBS quarterbacks that broke the 1000 yard rushing mark:

Chandler Harnish - NIU - 1379 yards
Denard Robinson - Michigan - 1176 yards
Collin Klein - Kansas State - 1141 yards

I certainly think that Smith has a legitimate shot at eventually breaking 1000 yards in a season if he is given the green light.

Don't think that he is he only one that would have a shot.

Wyoming also has a stable of running backs that are ready for the ball. Brandon Miller averaged over 5.5 yards per carry last year but only had 66 carries as he also spent time playing receiver. He is currently atop the depth chart at running back and poised for a much bigger year. Kody Sutton will also be competing for carries as he enters his sophomore year. Sutton had 30 carries in seven games as a freshmen for 146 yards. Nehemie Kankalongo is now healthy and looking to make an impact in his junior year. If Wyoming employs a steady three back rotation it will certainly be hard for one of them to pile up a ton of yards.

Now let's take a look a the receivers.

Chris McNeill was having a breakout year until he injured his shoulder in the win over Air Force. Still he led the Pokes with 504 receiving yards in just seven games. McNeill averaged an impressive 12 yards per catch his junior year. He will be just one of two returning upperclassmen starters in 2012, the other is Robert Herron.

Wyoming has a number of talented young wide receivers like Dominic Rufran and Trent Sewell who are still working to learn the system and get adjusted to the college game. Gregg Brandon likes have a solid rotation of up to eight receivers in order to maximize the passing game.

Last there were a total of 40 receivers in FBS who were north of 1000 yards.

It doesn't really matter if a Cowboy breaks the 1000 yard mark this year. It is amazing that Wyoming has only had a few players join that club. Individual performances are nice but team goals are the priority. The main goal is obviously victories.

I'm curious to get your thoughts on when a Poke will break that mark and who do you think it will be. Post your thoughts in the comments.

Poll

What will happen first?

1000 yard rusher

15 votes

1000 yard receiver

37 votes

Both the same year

9 votes

Doesn't matter

16 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

Reading Roundup: Season Preview, BlogPoll and Cowboy Cribs

The Road — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:05:50 -0000

Plenty of interesting things to read today on the inter-webs. We'll get you caught up on everything.

The latest BlogPoll was released yesterday and LSU is back at #1. I didn't vote this time and that meant that Wyoming got no love. Last time I put Wyoming at the #1 spot and it pretty much blew the computers up. Boise State was the only Mountain West team to make the Top 25 (landing at 22). Season opener Texas was 21.

Bill Connelly is doing incredibly in depth previews of every college football team. Right now he is progressing through the Mountain West. The Wyoming preview was just published and it is certainly worth reading. Bill is the innovator of the F+ ratings which haven't kind to Wyoming in the last couple years. He thinks the Cowboys will get a number of wins this year based on their depth and not just luck. There is also this Wyoming statistical profile that Bill compiled. It will likely blow your mind.

Josh Biezuns will get a shot with the Chicago Bears after signing as a free agent. He will attend the teams voluntary mini-camp that occurs later this month. Alvester Alexander reached a deal with Bears two weeks ago.

The latest Cowboys Cribs video was just released.

This week we can checkout the crib of RB Tedder Easton, OL Skyler Hinton and also DJ Christensen who is the son of Coach C. All three hail from Missouri and that is probably why they live together. Tedder is rocking the 95' Camry and the picture of Coach Christensen is hilarious.

Skyler and DJ are also handymen and can build fences.

Former Wyoming Cowboys Sign As Undrafted Free Agents

The Road — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:17:24 -0000

The 2012 NFL Draft is in the books and no Wyoming Cowboys were selected. That doesn't mean these former Cowboys are left out of a chance at making a NFL roster. After the draft is complete teams are busy contacting [;ayers aren't selected and trying to sign them. While it is always exciting to be drafted there were a number of big names in college football that went unpicked including Boise State QB Kellen Moore and Washington running back Chris Polk.

One big benefit of being an undrafted free agent is that you may get several offers and the you can pick the one that is best for you. DB Tashaun Gipson was the first signing to be announced on Saturday. Gipson chose an offer from the Cleveland Browns over several other teams. The Browns didn't focus on the secondary very much in the draft which will help Gipson earn a spot. They drafted one cornerback in the seventh round and then signed two others as free agents. Cleveland did not draft or sign any safety's this year. The versatility of Gipson to play safety and cornerback will be a big help to his chances.

Later on Saturday Alvester Alexander announced that he had reached an agreement with the Chicago Bears. The Bears were one of several teams that had been in contact with Alexander leading up to the draft. Chicago did not draft or sign any other running backs. The Bears now have five running backs including Alexander: Matt Forte, Michael Bush, Kahlil Bell and Armando Allen are the others. As a Bears fan I'm very excited for Alexander and hope to see him make it in Chicago

On Sunday linebacker Brian Hendricks signed with the Washington Redskins. Washington drafted Texas OLB Keenan Robinson in the fourth round but didn't sign any additional outside linebackers afterwards.

As of late Sunday evening Josh Biezuns, Gabe Knapton and Mazi Ogbonna had not been signed.

I found a recent video highlights some of Alexander's touchdowns the last couple years. I lenjoyed watching all those great runs from the last two Border Wars and I'm also reminded how much I love the Gold uniforms.

2012 NFL Draft Day 3 Open Thread

Jeremy Mauss — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:03:47 -0000

The final day of the 2012 NFL Draft should feature a lot more Mountain West players taken in the final three rounds. Over at Mocking the Draft they have their list of best available players list and it features a few Mountain West players:

67. George Iloka | 6'3, 213 pounds | Free safety | Boise State
106. Billy Winn | 6'3 3/8, 296 pounds | Defensive tackle | Boise State
158. Nate Potter | 6'6, 295 pounds | Offensive tackle | Boise State
163. Tank Carder | 6'2, 236 pounds | Outside linebacker | TCU

Missing is just the FBS all-time winningest quarterback Kellen Moore. One would have to think that Moore will get drafted at one point and even though his height is an issue since he is listed just at 6-foot, but he is a winner which should be enough to get him drafted.

I also think Wyoming running back Alvester Alexander has a chance to be a sixth- or seventh- round pick, but at worst he will be picked up as a rookie free agent.

Follow Mountain West Connection for more news around the clock via twitter, facebook and now google plus.

2012 Wyoming Cowboy Spring Football Primer

The Road — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:55:32 -0000

We're just a little over five months till the 2012 college football season starts. Luckily the next several weeks will be much more entertaining thanks to spring football. Today the Wyoming Cowboys will have their first of fifteen practices over the next month. This will include three scrimmages including the Brown and Gold game that takes place on April 21st.

Here is the full spring practice schedule:

Wednesday, March 21 3:30 p.m. (Non-contact, Practice #1)
Friday, March 23 3:30 p.m. (Non-contact, Practice #2)
Monday, March 26 3:30 p.m. (Shoulder Pads, Practice #3)
Wednesday, March 28 3:30 p.m. (Pads, Practice #4)
Friday, March 30 3:30 p.m. (Pads, Practice #5)
Monday, April 2 3:30 p.m. (Pads, Practice #6)
Wednesday, April 4 3:30 p.m. (Scrimmage #1, Practice #7)
Thursday, April 5 3:30 p.m. (Non-contact, Practice #8)
EASTER BREAK: Friday, April 6 Through Sunday, April 8
Monday, April 9 3:30 p.m. (Pads, Practice #9)
Wednesday, April 11 3:30 p.m. (Scrimmage #2, Practice #10)
Friday, April 13 3:30 p.m. (Pads, Practice #11)
Monday, April 16 3:30 p.m. (Pads, Practice #12)
Wednesday, April 18 3:30 p.m. (Shoulder Pads, Practice #13)
Friday, April 20 3:30 p.m. (Non-contact, Practice #14)
Saturday, April 21 2:00 p.m. (Scrimmage #3, Practice, #15)

Scrimmages are free and open to the public.

After the jump we will take a look at some of the story lines and position battles to keep an eye on this spring.

MEDIC

In 2011 Brett Smith used the spring workouts to get a heads up in the battle for the QB spot. The rest was history as he went on to a monster year and Mountain West freshmen of the year. This year will be a little easier on him as he recovers from post season surgery on the thumb on his right throwing hand.. He will not participate in any of the scrimmages this spring but will participate in non contact drills.

WR Chris McNeill will also be limited in his activities this spring after injuring his shoulder in the win over Air Force. WR Sam Stratton is definitely out after knee surgery.

MOVING DAY

Ghaali Muhammad has never played the same position two years in a row. After moving to running back last year he is now headed back to defense. At least it is back to the linebacker spot he played as a sophomore. He had 75 tackles in 2010 which was fourth best on the team. With the struggles the defense had last year it is obvious the Pokes are doing everything possible to fix those issues. Muhammad's willingness to switch positions every year shows what a team first guy he is.

James Caraway is moving from CB to WR to help the Pokes add another offensive weapon. Listed at 5-11 185 Caraway is one of the fastest players on the team. His number is also changing from #1 to #81 with the position swap.

POSITION BATTLES

Colby Kirkegaard will get plenty of quality reps while Smith is recovering. He played in four games last year and his improvement will be very important to help give the Pokes a stronger backup. There is not a third scholarship QB in school right now. Walk on Josh Smith will likely get reps behind Kirkegaard. This current shortage of quarterbacks worries me as it may mean less quality reps for the rest of the offense.

Kody Sutton is in a position to grab the lead running back spot with a strong spring. Alvester Alexander is heading to NFL and Muhammad is back at linebacker which meant that Sutton shot up the depth chart quickly. Brandon Miller will be his main competition for carries right now. Nehemie Kankalongo had strong spring workouts in 2011 but missed the fall season with a knee injury. If he is healthy then he may be ready to make some noise this year.

WR/TE

There are plenty of opportunities for younger receivers to step this year. Wyoming lost several seniors to graduation and a couple young wide outs who transferred. Robert Herron will battle with Trey Norman and Dominic Rufran this spring for being a top option. Eric Nzeocha enrolled early and his been impressive in the gym. Now we will see how the German does on the field. It will be interesting to see where Caraway fits into the equation.

Will T.J. Smith become a weapon like 2010 or is Spencer Bruce the leader at tight end? That will be an interesting position battle to watch.

The Cowboys lost three starters on the offensive line to graduation. Their improved play was a big impact in the Pokes scoring so many points last year. Now those gaps need to be filled. Connors Rains enrolled early from American River CC and the staff is very high on the 6-7 305lb linemen. Others who will be contending for starting spots are SO Daniel Fleischman, SO Travis Bogard, RFr Jake Jones and Rafe Kiely.

******

With Chris Tormey running the ship at defensive coordinator it will be fascinating to see how he switches things up. He prefers a 4-3 but is certainly open to switching up the scheme at times. This will be his first real look at the Pokes in action, we'll see if more players get moved around as the spring progresses.

The Cowboys return plenty of depth at defensive tackle. They will even get back a former starter in Patrick Merterns who missed 2011 with an illness that caused him to lose lots of weight. He is now back to 280lbs and will a great boost to the interior. The big battles are going to be at defensive with Gabe Knapton and Josh Biezuns gone. Mark Willis and Sonny Puletasi were the top backups last year and made some nice plays. Eddie Yarbrough was impressive last fall but was able to redshirt thanks to the Cowboys depth. He is considered a potential All-American, now will be his chance to show what he can do. Miraldo Michel dealt with a number of injuries last year and never got going. Hopefully he can make the most of his senior season.

With Ghaali back at linebacker and Oliver Schober the defense now looks stronger then it did a couple months ago. Schober missed all of 2011 with a shoulder injury. Todd Knight, Devyn Harris and Korey Jones will complete with Mark Nzeocha for that third starting spot. I just hope that at sometime this year all three German linebackers (Schober, Nzeocha and Alex Borgs) are playing on the field at the same time.

Only one starter is gone from the secondary but there is still plenty of competition happening. Blair Burns, Marqueston Huff, Luke Ruff and Luke Anderson are all returning starters. Darren White and DeAndre Jones will be competing for that #3 CB spot. Kenny Browder saw time at CB and FS last year. He should be competing with Chad Reese for playing time at free safety. Jones and Reese made some nice plays on special teams as freshmen.

K/P

Tim Gleeson is basically being handed the starting job at punter. He's never played American football before after growing up in Melbourne, Australia playing Aussie Rules football. He has a powerful leg and looks good on videotape. Now he just needs to translate that into real performances on the field. Daniel Sullivan was inconsistent last year at kicker. Will he keep the starting job or will Stuart Williams challenge him once again?

Panel Of Pokes: Figuring Out The Running Back Spot For 2012

The Road — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:21:01 -0000

After a month hiatus we are back with another edition of Panel of Pokes. This month we spend our time figuring out what is going to happen with life in Laramie after Alvester Alexander. The position of strength for Cowboys became a little shakier after he decided to take a shot at the NFL early. There are a number of players that could be utilized at running back next year and quized our crew to get their thoughts.

HERE IS THE TOPIC:

What do you want to see the Cowboys do at running back for 2012? How many running backs do you want the Cowboys to use and which players would you put in those spots?

Last year the Pokes used a three back rotation of Alvester Alexander, Ghaali Muhammad and Brandon Miller. Kody Sutton burned his redshirt late in the season when converted linebacker Muhammad went down. Alexander is taking a shot at the NFL and so he is gone. Nehemie Kankalongo is coming back after missing 2011 with a knee injury. There are also two new running backs that just signed with the Pokes this month in DJ May and Shaun Wick.

Our panel this month includes:

Matt Hargleroad - Cowboy Altitude

Ian McMackin - GoWyoGo

Brad Reed - WyoNatio

Matt Blaylock - Poke Pride

Ian - GoWyoGo

UW head coach Dave Christensen probably continues the multiple back rotation and I like this philosophy of a three back rotation. I'd expect to see Kody Sutton come in next season and be more than an adequate replacement for Alexander. I think Sutton can be a superstar in this offense, while the Cowboys will have a good mix of candidates to be part of the multi-rotation. There is a decent chance Ghaali Muhammad stays at running back with the departure Alexander, while Miller could be moved to receiver or stay at RB. It will be interesting to see if Nehemie Kankolongo can finally emerge. The Pokes are excited about incoming freshmen Shaun Wick and DJ May, who could both find themselves in the rotation as true-freshmen.

*************

Brad Reed - WyoNation

The Cowboys had a running back by committee last year with no single back really standing out. Alvester Alexander led the team in yardage, but towards the end of the season we got to see what Kody Sutton was made of. Brandon Miller had some carries in there, but eventually moved out into a WR position of sorts. Ghaali Muhammad was having a nice year at RB but was derailed by injuries and lost for the season. In 2012 the Cowboys are going to have an entirely different look at RB. Alvester Alexander, the leading rusher from last year's team, and the best back the Pokes have had since Devin Moore left town was primed to have a big senior season and set himself up for some NFL looks, instead, Alexander decided to leave for the NFL early, leaving a big hole to fill in the Pokes offense.

For 2012 I'd like to see a few changes in the running game (and I know that Gregg Brandon is definitely taking my advice!!). First, I'd like to see Ghaali Muhammad move back to linebacker. I think having Ghaali on the offensive side of the ball hurt the Pokes' ability to stop the rushing attack on defense. Ghaali runs with a lot of power and speed, and is a decent returner, but I think his calling as a Cowboy is at LB. Next I'd give Sutton a crack at the starting spot. He had some freshman mistakes last fall, but I think he's going to be a great RB. Runs with a lot of power considering how small he is. Nehemie Kankalongo should be given a chance to start, but we really don't know much about him. He was suspended as a freshman and was held out with an injury in 2011. This will be the first real action Kongo has gotten in a game. I honestly have no clue what the Pokes should do with Miller, but I think leaving him in his WR/RB spot is probably best. I would expect that neither of the true freshman would play unless we suffer an injury that can't be overcome with other back-ups.

The Pokes will be in capable hands next season at RB and I hope that we'll see a 1000 yard rusher emerge and lead the Pokes offense. Brett Smith won't be able to do all the rushing by himself, and to save his health, we need a solid running game to keep the offense chugging.

*************

Matt Hargleroad - Cowboy Altitude

Last year I was critical of the running back by committee system that was utilized by the Cowboys. After watching it work after a few games it won me over. The loss of Alexander certainly means a big hit to losing a senior on the team and the most experienced running back on the roster. I'd look another three back rotation like the Cowboys utilized in 2011. Last year Ghaali Muhammad made the switch from linebacker to running back and I loved what he brought to the the table. He brings a great package of size and speed together and I hope he gets the spot as the featured back.

After that I certainly say Kody Sutton should be the next to get the rock. He showed some nice flashes last year and would be a nice change of pace to the larger Muhammad. Brandon Miller was effective last year at running back and he also spent some time at receiver. With the depth at running back and the loss at wideout I'd like to see Miller play receiever fulltime in 2012. Sam Stratton is out for the year and Miller would help add some more depth at that spot.

With the third back I want to see Nehemie Kankalongo achieve some success this year. I've been a fan of "Kongo" ever since he visited UW via a very long bus trip from Canada. As a freshmen his time was limited due to suspensions for off the field issues. Then he missed 2011 with a knee injury and used his redshirt. I think he certainly has the potential to be very similar all purpose back like Alexander. There has been some whispers about him and Ghaali perhaps moving to defense. I hope that isn't the case for either players and that they get another shot at running back.

With the two freshmen backs Shaun Wick and DJ May, Christensen has said that both of them are likely to play as freshmen. I hope that one or both of them may be able to redshirt simply because of the depth the Cowboys have at the position. Obviously if someone gets moved to another spot then they would be next in line to get some reps. May and Wick are fairly similar in height, weight and speed as far as I can tell. It will be interesting to see what they can do in fall practice and if one emerges as an impact player right away.

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Matt Blaylock - PokePride

Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen needs to open up the offensive playbook and run a true spread offense. In a true spread the running back is limited in what he will do out of the backfield as far as running the ball.

If Wyoming runs a true spread then we need a back that has the best hands along with speed to catch the ball out of the backfield. The problem lies as you also need experience and that is where you have to look.

Ghaali Muhammad, Brandon Miller, Kody Sutton, Nehemie Kankolongo and the two new recruits D.J. May and Shaun Wick you have to go with what is proven until someone proves otherwise. Right now Muhammad has the experience and he has to be backed up by Brandon Miller.

May and Wick have the speed but are still an unproven commodity, Kankolongo could add depth and may make an impact but coming off an injury he will have to work his way back into playing shape and coaches will need to make sure he is not hesitant in his play.

Going into the season all signs would point to Muhammad starting at running back and Miller backing him up. If this does happen it will be time for Muhammad to shine

*************

Your turn: Tell us who you want to see the Cowboys use at running back in 2012!

Former Wyoming DB Tashaun Gipson Preparing For The NFL Draft

The Road — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:47:13 -0000

For Wyoming players that have used up their eligibility and have goals making it to the NFL, this is a busy time. Tashaun Gipson is working hard to follow in the steps of his former teammate Chris Prosinski and get drafted by a NFL team this April. Gipson's brother Marcell went undrafted last year and then tried to earn a spot with the Minnesota Vikings.

Gipson did a long interview with the site New Era Scouting and it provides some great insight on his preparations and time at Wyoming.

On his time at Wyoming

Playing at Wyoming helped shape me into the person I am today. I grew up at Wyoming and learned so much. There were growing pains like anyone has but it was a great place for me. The college experience at Wyoming was one of a kind. I made so many great friendships and I cherish that. I met so many good people here from teammates to coaches to friends outside of football. I had an enjoyable college experience and I couldn’t have pictured myself in a better place than here at Wyoming. I love the University of Wyoming and anything I can do for them moving forward would be an honor. I wouldn’t have traded my experience here for anything in the world.

On Preparing for the NFL

Right now I am in Columbus training to fine tune my skills. I am working on everything because you can never be too good in one area. I am working on my speed, my strengths. I want to blow up at my pro day and show everyone what I am capable of doing. I want to be that guy that everyone is amazed by after they see me at pro day. I was invited to an All-Star game and that was a great experience for me as I got a week to talk to coaches and scouts which was helpful. I was also listed on the bubble for the NFL combine which I was a upset about not getting the invite at first but it is what it is and I will prove myself so it isn’t really a big deal after I got thinking about it. It is motivation for me and I have my pro day anyway. I am just focusing on staying in shape and excelling at my pro day.

Greatest Accomplishments

One that really sticks out to me was when we won a bowl game in good fashion. That was a great moment for us as a team and really rewarded us for how hard we had worked. It was memorable because we won the game in triple OT. It was really big for me and my teammates and I wouldn’t trade that win for the world. That is something I will remember for the rest of my life. From a personal stand point I think I proved my durability and skills on the field. I feel I can grow even more with my upside. I was all conference the last two seasons and that was a great achievement and blessing for me. I give god all the glory. Not many guys can say the started as many games as I have in college.

Right now seems like any Wyoming player is kind of low on the radar by most NFL Draft sites. But last year showed that hard work and fine tuning your skills can certainly get you noticed by some teams. That is how Prosinksi ended up with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Alvester Alexander is training down in Dallas. Meanwhile Josh Biezuns and Brian Hendricks are training in Denver.