Wyoming Football Announces Additions to 2024 Signing Class

* University of Wyoming press release

LARAMIE -- The Wyoming Cowboy Football program announced 11 commitments on the first day of the 2024 regular signing period on Wednesday. Wyoming's now has 38 commitments after 27 players signed with the program in December, as it marks the first class under head coach Jay Sawvel.

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Quote from Incoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel on Wyoming's 2024 Signing Class

"We added some very talented players that fit needs in the program," Sawvel said. "We hit some needs in the transfer portal with some speed at receiver, another running back and a talented and experience linebacker. We feel what we have done is addressed the needs coming out of the early signing period. Overall, from top to bottom, start to finish, we feel like this is a very strong class. "

2024 Football Signing Periods

The early signing period for college football teams started on Wednesday, Dec. 20 and ran through Friday, Dec. 22. The mid-year junior college signing period began Dec. 20 and concluded on Monday, Jan. 15, 2023. Signings of transfers from four-year schools through the NCAA Transfer Portal opened on Monday, Dec. 4 and ran through Tuesday, Jan. 2. The regular signing period for football for the 2024 recruiting class will begin today on Wed., Feb. 7 and will run through Monday, April 1.

2024 Wyoming Football Regular Signing Class Select Highlights

• Features six transfers with four from FBS schools, one from the FCS and a junior college transfer

• Features one of the top tacklers in the FCS last season in Evan Eller

• Features two-high school signings that ranked as three-star recruits

• Features six players on the offensive side of the ball, five on defense.

• Features signees from six different states (Texas - 4, Colorado - 2, California - 2, Missouri -1, North Carolina -1 and Virginia -1)

Transfer Commitments (6)

Name Walk-on Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Last School)

Jaylan Bean PWO WR 6-4 190 So. Dallas, Texas (Garden City CC, Kan.)

Evan Eller S LB 6-0 225 Gr. Roanoke, Va. (Virginia Military Institute)

DJ Jones S RB 5-11 200 Gr. Fayetteville, N.C. (North Carolina)

Ty King S WR 5-9 180 So. Houston, Texas (Texas Tech)

Garrett McGriff PWO S 5-11 190 Fr. Carmichael, Calif. (Army)

Clay Nanke PWO TE 6-6 235 Jr. Denver, Colo. (Colorado State)

High School Commitments (5) 

Name Walk-on Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Last School)

Markie Grant S CB 5-11 170 Fr. Houston, Texas (Dekaney HS)

Caleb Hall PWO OL 6-5 255 Fr. Carmichael, Calif. (Jesuit High School)

Nico Hamilton S RB 5-10 200 Fr. Austin, Texas (Lake Travis High School)

David Leonard S SAF 5-11 170 Fr. St. Louis, Mo. (St Mary's High School)

Spencer Rathbun PWO OL 6-4 260 Fr. Denver, Colo (Rock Canyon High School)

2024 University of Wyoming Football Commitments - February Class

Evan Eller LB 6-0 225 Gr. Roanoke, Va. (Virginia Military Institute)

Evan Eller comes to Wyoming from the Virginia Military Institute, a member of the FCS. Eller finished last season with 106 total tackles to rank No. 16 in the FCS. He also forced two fumbles on the season and recorded one interception. Eller earned All-SoCon honors also earned Player of the Month honors in November. As a junior, Eller recorded nine tackles per game for No. 33 in FCS as a junior. He had a career-high 16 tackles against Western Carolina as a senior. For his career at VMI, Keller has appeared in 40 games and has recorded 235 career tackles. As a high schooler, he was named the Virginia 3A State defensive Player of the Year at Lord Botetourt High School.

DJ Jones RB 5-11 200 Gr. Fayetteville, N.C. (North Carolina)

DJ Jones comes to Wyoming after playing four seasons at North Carolina. He spent three seasons at running back before moving to defensive back last season. At defensive back, he appeared in all 13 games and started two contests adding 15 tackles. Jones appeared in 13 games with one start as a junior. He finished season with 124 rushing yards and 102 receiving yards on 12 receptions. As a sophomore, Jones appeared in nine games and rushed for 253 yards on 60 attempts and added 12 receptions for 55 yards. He rushed for a career-best 60 yards on 11 carries against Florida State as a sophomore. He was a three-star recruit and the No. 57 running back in the nation coming out of high school. He tallied 2,348 rushing yards and 27 TDs during his three prep seasons

Ty King WR 5-9 180 So. Houston, Texas (Texas Tech)

Ty King comes to Wyoming from Texas Tech. He spent two seasons with the Red Raiders. He appeared in one game in 2020 grabbing a catch for six yards against Murray State. He did not appear in any contests during the 2023 season. He attended Alief Taylor High School in the Houston, Texas area. He was dual-sport athlete, competing in both football and track and field known as easily among the fastest recruits in the state of Texas for the 2022 class. King was listed as a four-star recruit by ESPN and a three-star prospect by both 247Sports and Rivals. King was listed as the No. 59 wide receiver in the 2022 class by ESPN and the No. 61 player in the state of Texas.

High School Commitment Signees (3)

Markie Grant CB 5-11 170 Fr. Houston, Texas (Dekaney HS)

Markie Grant is ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com. 247Sports ranked Grant as the No. 171 overall recruit in the talent-rich state of Texas. His senior season, he intercepted three passes and returned one for a touchdown, had 18 pass break-ups, forced four fumbles and recovered one fumble. Grant also had 56 total tackles, including 45 solo stops and 3.0 tackles for loss, He helped lead Dekaney High to an 8-3 record and the Bi-District Round of the 2023 6A D2 State Playoffs. He was also recruited by Arizona State, Arkansas, California, Colorado State, Fresno State, Indiana, Kansas, Marshall, Maryland, Miami (Ohio), Missouri, Nebraska, Syracuse, Tulane, UNLV, Utah State and Washington State.

David Leonard SAF 5-11 170 Fr. St. Louis, Mo. (St Mary's High School)

Leonard prepped at St. Mary’s High School in St. Louis, Mo. A talented quarterback and defensive back in high school. As quarterback, as a senior, he passed for over 1,200 yards and recorded seven touchdown passes. He also rushed for 390 yards on the season with four touchdowns. He rushed for over 100 yards against SLU High School. On defense, he recorded 45 tackles on the season playing both ways. He also added an interception. He recorded a season-high 10 tackles against Cape Girardeau Central.

Nico Hamilton RB 5-10 200 Fr. Austin, Texas (Lake Travis High School)

Hamilton preps at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas. It is the same high school as Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets and Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Bucs. As a senior, Hamilton rushed for over 1,200 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. He also had nine catches for 53 yards. He finished the season with nine touchdowns on the ground as a senior. Hamilton rushed for four scores in a game during the 6A State Playoffs For his career, Hamilton rushed for 3,345 yards with 29 touchdowns. He was also recruited by Air Force and a host of Ivy League schools.

Transfer Commitments Perferred Walk-Ons (3)

Jaylan Bean WR 6-4 190 So. Dallas, Texas (Garden City CC, Kan.)

Jaylan Bean comes to Wyoming from Garden City Community College one the top programs in junior college. Last season at Garden City, he recorded 20 receptions for 230 yards. He had nine catches for 103 yards in his final two games of the season with five catches for 25 yards against Snow college and four catches for 78 yards against Coffeyville Community College. He was graduate of DeSoto High School in the Dallas area. As a senior, he recorded 48 receptions for 607 yards with six touchdowns.

Clay Nanke TE 6-6 235 Jr. Denver, Colo. (Colorado State)

Clay Nanke played at Colorado State prior to coming to Wyoming. He converted to tight end in the spring of 2023 after spending time on defense. He appeared in two games for the Rams last season against Washington State and UNLV. He did not record any statistics.

Garrett McGriff S 5-11 190 Fr. Carmichael, Calif. (Army)

Garrett McGriff comes to the Cowboys from Army West Point. He did not appear in any games for Army. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School in his hometown of Carmichael, Calif. Out of high school, McGriff was a three-star recruit by 247sports.com. In the 2021-22 season, Jesuit amassed a record of 10-2 and completed an impressive playoff run, making it to the semifinal in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Football Playoffs. He recorded 879 rushing yards for an average of 12.2 yards per carry, 20 total touchdowns, 23 total tackles, three interceptions, and 120 kickoff return yards in only three returns. Along with his statistically great year, Garrett was awarded the Delta League MVP.

High School Commitments Perferred Walk-Ons (2)

Spencer Rathbun OL 6-4 260 Fr. Denver, Colo (Rock Canyon High School)

Rathbun is an offensive lineman from Denver, Colorado. He attended Rock Canyon High School. Rathbun was a Second-Team All-State selection. He was also a unanimous First-Team All-Conference honoree. He is the son of former Cowboy Rob Rathbun, who played for the Cowboys in the 90’s.

Caleb Hall OL 6-5 255 Fr. Carmichael, Calif. (Jesuit High School)

Hall preps at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, Calif. He is a three-star recruit accord to 247Sports.com. He was a First Team All-Delta League honoree. He led an offensive line that helped clear the way for 2,633 yards. His father played at Notre Dame. He was also recruited by Nevada and San Diego.