THE BOARD: Wyoming Football

The number

2 — Two commits from Cherry Creek HS in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and two from Batavia HS in Batavia, Illinois. When a staff lands two players from the same high school in two different states, that is relationship recruiting. Alijah Landrum-Hamilton (WR) and Karson McKenzie (SAF) give Wyoming a Cherry Creek pipeline. Michael Vander Luitgaren (QB) and Thomas Prescott (TE) give them a Batavia connection. This is a class built on trust.

The fit

Jay Sawvel is entering his third year in Laramie after replacing Craig Bohl, who retired following the 2023 season. Sawvel, who was promoted from defensive coordinator, went 3-9 in his first year and 4-8 in his second. The wins have not arrived yet. The recruiting suggests the staff knows what it is building.

Fourteen commits from eight states — Colorado (4), Illinois (2), Wyoming (2), California (2), and one each from Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas. The Colorado pipeline is the foundation. Four commits from the state, anchored by the two Cherry Creek products. Cherry Creek is one of the top programs in the Denver metro.

Kingston Beyer, the class's second-highest-rated commit, had 17 offers — the most in the class. A 6-2, 280-pound defensive tackle from All Saints Episcopal in Fort Worth, Beyer chose Wyoming over 16 other programs. That offer count suggests the Cowboys are competing for players other staffs want.

The class leans slightly toward offense. Three wide receivers, two quarterbacks, two offensive tackles and a tight end on offense. Two defensive tackles, two safeties, an edge rusher and a linebacker on defense. The two-quarterback class is notable — Vander Luitgaren (6-1, 200, Batavia) had 11 offers; Ingersoll (6-2, 205, Pomona, Colo.) is the in-state arm.

Two in-state commits round out the class. Chase Garber, a 6-5, 270-pound offensive tackle from Big Horn, and Cache McFadden, a 6-1, 175-pound safety from Cody. Sawvel is making sure the Cowboys keep their Wyoming talent home.

The commits

Alijah Landrum-Hamilton — WR, 5-10, 160, Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo. Grade: 72.95. Stars: 3.5. Offers: 8. Highest-rated commit in the class. National rank: 1,160.

Kingston Beyer — DT, 6-2, 280, All Saints Episcopal, Fort Worth, Texas. Grade: 68.09. Stars: 3.3. Offers: 17. Most offers in the class.

Michael Vander Luitgaren — QB, 6-1, 200, Batavia HS, Batavia, Ill. Grade: 60.55. Stars: 3.1. Offers: 11. First of two Batavia commits.

Jimmel Champion — WR, 6-2, 185, Huntington Beach HS, Huntington Beach, Calif. Grade: 59.59. Stars: 3.0. Offers: 9.

Brett Singler — DT, 6-4, 240, Shiocton HS, Shiocton, Wis. Grade: 58.02. Stars: 3.0. Offers: 9.

Levi Rillos — WR, 6-2, 185, Ralston Valley HS, Colo. Grade: 55.47. Stars: 2.9. Offers: 8.

Thomas Prescott — TE, 6-5, 215, Batavia HS, Batavia, Ill. Grade: 54.72. Stars: 2.9. Offers: 14. Second Batavia commit.

Chase Garber — OT, 6-5, 270, Big Horn HS, Big Horn, Wyo. Grade: 53.09. Stars: 2.9. Offers: 6. In-state commit.

Noah Reid — OT, 6-6, 290, Shawnee Mission North HS, Kan. Grade: 51.90. Stars: 2.9. Offers: 8.

Karson McKenzie — SAF, 5-11, 175, Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo. Grade: 49.85. Stars: 2.9. Offers: 4. Second Cherry Creek commit.

Garrison Manzanarez — Edge, 6-2, 230, Cypress HS, Calif. Grade: 49.65. Stars: 2.9. Offers: 5.

Tucker Ingersoll — QB, 6-2, 205, Pomona HS, Colo. Grade: 48.94. Stars: 2.8. Offers: 1. Second quarterback in the class.

Drew Benassi — LB, 6-2, 215, Lee's Summit HS, Lee's Summit, Mo. Grade: 48.82. Stars: 2.8. Offers: 10.

Cache McFadden — SAF, 6-1, 175, Cody HS, Cody, Wyo. Grade: 48.41. Stars: 2.8. Offers: 1. In-state commit.

The targets

Wyoming's class ranks 93rd nationally and third in the Mountain West per Profile. The average rating (55.7) ranks 89th nationally. The average distance is 524 miles — one of the wider footprints in the conference. Sawvel's staff has built paired pipelines at Cherry Creek and Batavia rather than collecting one-off commits. Expect the staff to target additional Colorado and front-range prospects when the calendar opens.

College football's Dead Period began June 22 and runs through July 31. Coaches cannot have in-person contact with recruits during this window. This is a check-in on where the Cowboys' class stands as the Dead Period begins.

Sources: Profile (primary), gowyo.com

All commitments listed are non-binding verbal commitments. All commitments, offers and visits listed are based on publicly reported information and do not necessarily reflect a complete listing of activity. This board is updated regularly as new information becomes available.