Andrew Johnson Eyeing Starting Job in Swan Song at Wyoming

LARAMIE -- He's admittedly lost some hair on his head. His youthful face, though, now features a full beard. When he arrived on Wyoming's campus, the scale read 180 -- on a good day. Now, it says 208.

Andrew Johnson, at one time, didn't even make the team's traveling roster. Now, he's battling for a starting gig in the Cowboys' secondary.

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He's suddenly the elder statesman in the room.

"You always hear that it will be over in the blink of an eye," he said, flashing a quick smile. "I feel like just yesterday I was moving into White Hall."

The focus, he says, is contributing, playing every single defensive snap this fall. That could come at strong or free safety. His coaches even have faith in him at the nickel spot.

That room is littered with new faces. That means added competition.

Johnson is embracing it, especially if that means racking up wins.

"It's definitely reassuring, because, you know, God forbid an injury does happen, you don't want to be in a position we were in last year," he said, referring to losing senior starters Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White. "Knowing that you have depth -- athletic depth -- and that potential, I guess, not just for this year, but years to follow, it's really reassuring."

New toys are fun to play with. Old ones, though, often bring resilience and reliable.

That's how Jason Petrino views this senior.

"He's somebody I trust," the Cowboys' second-year safeties coach said. "He can go out there, communicate and get the things done that we need him to get done. He's the most experienced veteran here, and he's a guy that we need to see him step up and make the plays that he's capable of making."

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If the season started today, who would trot onto the field first?

Jay Sawvel said he doesn't have an answer for that question quite yet, just 11 practices into the fall. He also called that a good problem to have. What Wyoming's second-year head coach does know, though, is Johnson will play more this season.

"There's not a metric out there that he doesn't excel at," he continued. "Now, what he's got to do is, be impactful on the field. He's a very good athlete, runs well, is explosive and knows what he's doing, you know? There's not going to be a missed assignment issue or a lack of knowledge of what to do. He's capable of doing all the things that he needs to do.

"This is a big year for him."

Johnson appeared in 11 games last fall despite suffering a broken thumb in a Week-4 tilt at North Texas. He tallied a career-high 30 tackles, 19 of the solo variety. He even broke up a pass. At times, it was trial by fire, taking snaps at all three positions on the final line of defense.

Who has time for nerves?

Johnson said there have been some epic battles with John Michael Gyllenborg in fall camp. Sawvel said Monday 17 NFL scouts have attended practices. They all are likely keeping a close eye on the 6-foot-5, 245-pound senior with draft potential.

That, Johnson added, is simply iron sharpening iron.

"In my opinion, I'm covering the best tight end in the country," he said. "Having that competition every day, mentally, if I can cover him, I can cover anyone."

He attempts to go stride for stride with speedy wideout Chris Durr Jr. He tries to outleap Michael Fitzgerald, who at 6-foot-6, has arguably the largest catch radius on the roster.

You win some, you lose some.

Slipping that brown and gold jersey over his head was always a dream. Sliding that white helmet on, Steamboat logo on each side, just means more to the locals.

Johnson is no different.

The Cheyenne product wants to go out with a bang. Petrino has seen this storyline unfold before.

"I know how important it is for him," he said. "I've been around the Chris Prosinskis, the John Wendlings and those guys that we're Wyoming born and bred and played that position."

Johnson has never lost that perspective.

"I know that stuff doesn't last forever, and this is an opportunity very few people get," he said. "Not just get, but to live out, which I've gotten to do. I have met some of my best friends here, people will be in my wedding and will be my friends for the rest of my life.

"It's definitely not something I take for granted."

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