After switching to Sean Chambers after a 2-6 start, Wyoming won their final four games by an average of 16 points to finish bowl eligible (Original QB Tyler Vander Waal did start one of the four games as Chambers was sidelined with an injury) and ended 2018 on a high note
This team is very young but it returns a lot and should begin to lay the groundwork for a return to 2016-Wyoming when they won the MW Mountain Division TItle.
Offense
We’ve already talked about the QB situation, where redshirt freshman Sean Chambers is the projected starter, but despite the loss of top HB Nico Evans, an intriguing rusher returns in last year’s #2, Xazavian Vallady (5.6 YPA). All five projected starters on the line have starting experience so the run game should be deadly.
Between Vallady and the dual-threat Chambers, Wyoming will run a lot, and that will be reinforced by the fact that the Cowboys lose their top two receivers and four of their top six. Seniors Austin Conway and Raghib Ismail Jr. are the top two returnees.
Wyoming will be a run-first and second type of team, and with Chambers having a full camp practicing with the ones, they should improve. Chambers is a redshrit freshman, and Valladay is a sophomore, so this offense could be good for years to come if both bloom to their potential.
Defense
The defense was great last year, but some key pieces are gone in Andrew Wingard, Marcus Epps, Carl Granderson, and Youhanna Ghafian.
Corners Antonio Hull and Tyler Hall are back for their senior seasons after combining for 17 PBUs last season. There also is some talent returning on the line, most notably end Garrett Crall (4.5 sacks, two TFL), but the inside looks a little week. MLB Logan Wilson is back after a second team all-conference year last year (nine TFL). Cassh Maluia (six TFL, three PBUs) returns at Will.
Depth at tackle and in the back could be an issue but this should still be a very good Mountain West defense.
2019 Outlook
There are some notable holes on the lines and at safety, but HC Craig Bohl has done a great job applying the job he did at North Dakota State to the FBS level.
This is a young team, and the schedule isn’t easy with Boise State, Utah State, and Air Force on the road, but the Cowboys should be bowl eligible once again, and I would be very excited about the future in Laramie.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | OPP. rank | Proj. Margin |
| 31-Aug | Missouri | 16 | -8.6 |
| 7-Sep | at Texas State | 112 | 4.1 |
| 14-Sep | Idaho | NR | n/a |
| 21-Sep | at Tulsa | 98 | -1.2 |
| 28-Sep | UNLV | 108 | 8.1 |
| 12-Oct | at San Diego State | 66 | -6.0 |
| 19-Oct | New Mexico | 117 | 12.4 |
| 26-Oct | Nevada | 95 | 3.8 |
| 9-Nov | at Boise State | 32 | -11.0 |
| 16-Nov | at Utah State | 42 | -5.3 |
| 22-Nov | Colorado State | 103 | 5.6 |
| 30-Nov | at Air Force | 97 | -1.4 |
Average Projected Record: 6.6 wins, 5.4 losses (4.2 wins, 3.8 losses)