Wyoming Football: Bowl bid in 2020 would do wonders for program

Cowboys attempt to step up in every defensive aspect

The defense was solid as a rock in multiple areas this past season. Wyoming’s defense was ranked 11th (second in the Mountain West) in points allowed (17.8) and 43rd (fourth in the Mountain West) in total yards allowed (363.8).

Most of the success can be pinpointed back to their ability to create pressure in the backfield. The Cowboys accounted for 31 total sacks last season against the opposing offenses. They only allowed a conversion rate of 37 percent on third-down conversions (75-of-200).

The Cowboys lost a few of their assistant coaches on the defensive side of the ball as they left to join Nick Rolovich’s staff at Washington State. First-year defensive coordinator Jake Dickert was one of the coaches that departed for Washington State. They hired former Minnesota and Wake Forest defensive coordinator for the same position as well as safeties coach. He will look to help the Cowboys’ defense help find six new starters.

The defensive line looks to be one of the strongest units for Wyoming. They also look to be one of the most productive defensive line units in the Mountain West. Defensive end Garrett Crall returns for his senior year after playing in 38 games. Last season, he accounted for 55 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Solomon Byrd looks to make his first start for the Cowboys after accounting 45 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a true freshman. Both Crall and Byrd were named to Athlon Sports’ preseason second-team All-Mountain West.

Mario Mora returns as the starting nose tackle after playing 11 games with seven starts. Defensive tackle Ravontae Holt returns after missing the entire season due to an injury.

The Cowboys must replace their two tacklers from numerous seasons in Logan Wilson and Cassh Maluia. Wilson has contributed in 50 games in his stellar four-year career as he had 409 total tackles and 34.5 tackles for loss. They look to start junior Chad Mumu after contributing 25 total games in the past two seasons. He accounted for 51 total tackles last season as a backup.

Redshirt freshman Easton Gibbs is projected to start after appearing one game this past season. He went from true freshman redshirting to projected starter in just one offseason.

In the secondary, the Cowboys return three of their five starters. The Cowboys defense, specifically with the secondary, allowed 154 first downs through the passing game, 15 passing touchdowns and allowed a completion rate of 57.3 percent.

Junior nickelback Keyon Blankenbaker led the team last season in pass deflections with 10. The top cornerback will be junior Azizi Hearn, who had 37 total tackles and four pass deflections.