LARAMIE -- Eighteen.

That's the number of verbal commitments Craig Bohl and Co. have garnered so far this offseason.

That was before Bohl announced his retirement last Wednesday after roaming the sidelines in Laramie over the last 10 seasons. Defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel, that same afternoon, was named the 33rd head coach in Wyoming football history.

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How did the potential future Cowboys take that news?

"I'm confident they are going to stay," Sawvel said at his introductory press conference. "I've reached out to all of them by text. I will be on the phone with all of them today. I think the biggest frontier that I have to do is the offensive commits. All the defensive commits, I have met with and spent time with when they were here on visits. That's standard procedure, where the offensive guys, maybe just short conversations, introductions, things like that. But they spend more time with offensive coaches on visits. So, that'll be something that I need to do today.

"But, so far, everything has been positive of what's come back from everybody. And that's it. We hope that continues and we're going to work to make that continue. We've got to build on more and we have to get a few more to come."

That happened.

Two days after those announcements, offensive lineman Spencer Rathbun gave his verbal commitment to the program. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Colorado product and son of former UW standout Rob Rathbun (1994-96), became the 19th prospect in this 2024 class.

"I am blessed to have the opportunity to continue what coach Bohl built over the last decade and am thrilled to learn under coach Sawvel, coach Tripodi and coach Hendricks and the rest of the staff," Rathbun tweeted in part.

The NCAA's early signing day is set for Dec. 20 and Wyoming's head coach recently said he is happy with that number, along with the prospects that will be signing on the dotted line to play college football in Laramie.

"Yeah, we've been out recruiting," Bohl said. "What you're seeing is, what are schools trying to do? Are they trying to revamp their roster with transfers? Are they going to stay developmental? Are they going to go with a hybrid model? We're still choosing to build our program through a developmental model and supplement."

In other words, Wyoming will still attempt to add through the transfer portal but is very much still looking for top high school talent.

"We're in a good place," Bohl added.

 

Wyoming's 2024 verbal commitments:

Adrian Onyiego - 6'2", 210 pounds - OLB/ DE - Rogers, Minn. - 2 stars

Brycen Lotz - 6'5", 260 pounds - OL - Braham, Minn. - 2 stars 

Daegon "Bleyne" Bryant - 6'2", 185 pounds - ATH - Bowling Green, Mo. - 2 stars

Giovanni Panozzo - 6'6", 260 pounds - OL - Arvada, Colo. - 2 stars

Hunter Kallstrom - 6'4", 220 pounds - TE - Kerkhoven, Minn. - 2 stars

Dash Bauman - 6'2", 180 pounds - OLB - Lincoln, Neb. - 2 stars

Tyrese Boss - 6'0", 170 pounds - CB - Chino Hills, Calif. - 2 stars

Nathan Murphy - 6'4", 270 pounds - DT - Bryan, Texas - 0 stars

Alex Haswell - 6'4", 205 pounds - DE - Sheridan, Wyo. - 0 stars

Tyler Nystrom - 6'2" 180 pounds - WR - Arden Hills, Minn. - 0 stars

Joaquin Sandoval - 5'11", 180 pounds - DB - Glenwood Springs, Colo. - 2 stars

Garrett Combs - 6'4", 260 pounds - DT - Temple, Texas - 0 stars

Devyn Hidrogo - 6'2", 180 pounds - S - Franklin, Texas - 3 stars

Eltoum Murgus - 6'4", 200 pounds - LB - Kansas City, Mo. - 2 stars

Braylon Jenkins - 6'4", 260 pounds - OG - West Des Moines, Iowa - 0 stars

Dontae Burch - 5'8", 180 pounds - ATH - Lenexa, Kan. - 0 stars

Jake Wilson - 6'5", 215 pounds - WR - Montgomery, Texas - 2 stars

Chris Durr Jr. - 5'11", 148 pounds - WR - Chicago, Ill. - 3 stars

* Spencer Rathbun - 6'5", 270 pounds - OL - Highlands Ranch, Colo. - 0 stars

All info from Rivals.com

Wyoming Cowboys Football: 2023 Season in Photos

Our 7220sports.com photographer DJ Johnson is on the sideline at every Wyoming football game. Rain, shine -- and everything in between -- you're likely to find him scouring stadiums around the country looking for "the shot." Take a look at some of DJ's highlights during the 2023 campaign.

Gallery Credit: DJ Johnson photos

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