Cowboys to open on Monday

Richard Anderson photos

The Wyoming Cowboys will begin fall drills Monday at 4 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium. At bottom, new offensive coordinator Bob Cole encourages senior running back Wynel Seldon last spring.

By Wyoming Sports.org

Anticipation will turn to reality as the 2008 college football season kicks off for the Wyoming Cowboys with their first practice on Aug. 4 at 4 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium.

Head Coach Joe Glenn, entering his sixth season at the helm, welcomes back 16 starters and 43 lettermen for the 2008 season. Of those 16 starters, seven are on defense and nine on offense.

The first week of fall drills will feature one afternoon practice per day. Media Day will be Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon. Wyoming’s first practice in full pads will also be Aug. 8 at 3:15 p.m. Two Wednesday scrimmages are planned during fall practice -- the first on Aug. 13 at 5 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium and the second Aug. 20, also at 5 p.m. in War Memorial.

“This is one of the most exciting times of the year for me,” Glenn in a release. “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work by so many people. Much of what our players and coaches do preparing for the next season is behind the scenes -- recruiting for the coaches, winter and summer conditioning for the players and strength staff -- but now you get to start to see the fruits of your labors. You get to see what your veterans have done in the off-season to improve themselves physically, and you get to see your new recruits in your school colors for the first time.”

Glenn said that this is also a time of the year when your team gets back together as a unit and starts building toward the season opener.

“For us, August 30th against Ohio is the red letter day that we’re pointing toward with all of our preparations,” he said.

Not only does the Wyoming roster have good balance with the seven returning defensive starters and nine returning offensive starters, but there are 21 returning lettermen on offense and 21 on defense, as well as two returning lettermen on special teams.

The Cowboys will be one of the most veteran groups in Glenn’s six years in Laramie. A combined total of 40 juniors and seniors return in ‘08 -- 24 juniors and 16 seniors. Leading the way are three individuals who earned preseason First Team All-MWC honors from Mountain West Conference media earlier this month. Senior inside linebacker Ward Dobbs, junior defensive tackle John Fletcher and senior Devin Moore were all named to the preseason All-Conference team. Moore was selected to the All-MWC team as a return specialist. He is Wyoming’s returning starter at running back where he rushed for 965 yards in 2007. Dobbs enters his senior season with 242 career tackles, and needs only 17 more tackles to enter the Wyoming Career Top 10. Fletcher, who earned Second Team All-MWC honors as a sophomore in ‘07, has been named to the Outland Trophy Watch List this season.

“One of the really encouraging things for all of us is we have a veteran team returning,” said Glenn. “Any good team usually has your upperclassmen making the bulk of the plays for you, and it looks to me this year that we will be very junior and senior laden, which I think has got to help us in the long run. Experience means so much in the game of football.”
Glenn took the experience facto a step further, especially on the line.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a team in all my years of coaching where every starter on the offensive line returns and every starter on the defensive line returns and that is what we have on this team,” he said. “On offense, not only do we have all of our starters back up front, but we have tight end/fullback types in spades, who are good football players, that I think will enable us to rumble a little bit in the ground game. With all of those pieces to go with our two senior running backs (Moore and Wynel Seldon), I believe we will be able to get downhill in the running game. You will also see Wynel not only at running back but at wide receiver some. He has great hands, and we want to get both he and Devin on the field.”

Even with that experience returning, there are a couple of hotly-contested position battles expected to pick up again this fall at quarterback and in the kicking game. Glenn said last week at the annual MWC Media Days in Las Vegas that returner Karsten Sween, newcomer Dax Crum and senior Ian Hetrick are still in a battle for the starting position.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that competition makes you better,” said Glenn. “It tightens your focus. It heightens your effort. We have that kind of competition at the quarterback spot. We hopefully will have someone separate by the first fall scrimmage and start taking the lion’s share of the reps.”

That will also be the case for the place-kicking and punting positions as Billy Vinnedge, now in the San Diego Chargers camp, handled both sports.

“We’ve got a couple of battles there,” Glenn said. “We have four or five guys who will be competing. Jake Scott has some starting experience as a place-kicker from a couple of years ago. Nick Landess is in his third year in our program at punter. We’ve brought in a guy who can do both in Austin McCoy (a true freshman from Florida), and we have a walk-on in Cody Bousema, who has junior-college experience primarily as a punter and kick-off guy. We have some talent at those two spots, we just have to let those individuals fight it out and see who gets the start on August 30th.”
---
Fall Practice Schedule
Monday, Aug. 4 -- 4 p.m. Helmets, no pads
Tuesday, Aug. 5 -- 3:15 p.m. Helmets, no pads
Wednesday, Aug. 6 -- 3:15 p.m. Helmets and shoulder pads only
Thursday, Aug. 7 -- 3:15 p.m. Helmets and shoulder pads only
Friday, Aug. 8 -- 10 a.m.-Noon Media Day Interviews; 3:15 p.m. First Day of Full Pads
Saturday, Aug. 9 -- 3:15 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10 -- 3:15 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 11 -- 9:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. (Two-a-Day Practices Begin)
Tuesday, Aug. 12 -- 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 13 -- 10 a.m. Special Teams Practice; 5 p.m. First Fall Scrimmage
Thursday, Aug. 14 -- 3:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15 -- 3:15 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 16 -- 9:15 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 18 -- 9:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 19 -- 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 20 -- 10 a.m. Special Teams Practice; 5 p.m. Second and Final Fall Scrimmage
Thursday, Aug. 21 -- 3:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22 -- 9:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 23 -- 9:15 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24 -- Regular Weekly Walk Through to Begin Game Week
Monday, Aug. 25 -- First Day of Classes
(No Practice, begin regular weekly practice schedule with no practices on
Mondays and regular practices at 3:15 p.m. the rest of the week.)

Bouknight, Goldberg on all decade team

Richard Anderson photo
Former Wyoming player and graduate assistant coach Jovon Bouknight, center, was named to the Mountain West Conference All-Decade team, along with former UW offensive lineman Adam Goldberg (below).

By Wyoming Sports.org

The Mountain West Conference announced on Tuesday its 10th Anniversary Football Team, as selected by a combined panel of media, institutional and conference personnel, as well as an on-line fan poll.

The Wyoming Cowboys were represented on the squad by former wide receiver Jovon Bouknight (2002-05) and offensive lineman Adam Goldberg (1999-2002).

In order to be eligible for consideration, candidates must have been a First Team All-Mountain West selection at least once in their careers.

Anniversary teams will be chosen for each of the 19 conference-sponsored sports during the 2008-09 seasons in celebration of the Mountain West's 10th anniversary.

The announcement of the All-Decade team for football coincides with the 2008 MWC Media Days held July 20-22 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Bouknight concluded his UW career ranked No. 20 in NCAA history in both career receiving yards (3,626) and career receptions (250). His senior season, he was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, and also earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from College Football News. He earned First Team All-MWC honors as a senior. Bouknight concluded his career ranked No. 2 in MWC history in both receptions (250) and receiving yards (3,626). In Wyoming school history, Bouknight ranks No. 3 in career receiving yards, No. 2 in school history in career receptions and is UW's all-time all-purpose yardage leader (5,921 all-purpose yards), as well as career kickoff return leader (2,016 kickoff-return yards). He caught at least one pass in 47 consecutive games, which is the UW school record. Bouknight is currently a member of the Wyoming coaching staff as the offensive graduate assistant.

Goldberg was named First Team All-MWC after his junior and senior seasons (2001 and 2002) by the MWC Coaches. He was also named First Team All-MWC following his final year by the MWC Media and Football News and he represented UW at the post-season Rotary Gridiron Classic. Goldberg was a four-year starter for the Cowboys on the offensive line and his final two seasons he started at the important left tackle position, protecting the quarterback's back-side. He started all 44 career games he played in at UW. The only game he missed during his career was due to mononucleosis in the 2001 season opener against Furman. Goldberg signed with the Minnesota Vikings after finishing his career at UW. He played with the Vikings from 2003-06 and is currently on the St. Louis Rams roster.
---
Offense
QB — Alex Smith (Utah) 2002-2004
RB — DonTrell Moore (New Mexico) 2002-2005, Luke Staley (BYU) 1999-2001.
WR — Jovon Bouknight (Wyoming) 2002-2005, David Anderson (Colorado State) 2002-2005.
TE — Jonny Harline (BYU) 2004-2006.
OL — Adam Goldberg (Wyoming) 1999-2002, Ryan Cook (New Mexico) 2002-2005, Doug Kaufusi (Utah) 1999-2001, Jordan Gross (Utah) 1999-2002, Erik Pears (Colorado State) 2001-2004.
Place-kicker — John Sullivan (New Mexico) 2004-2007.
Defense
DL — Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (San Diego State) 1999, Chase Ortiz (TCU) 2005-2007, Brady Poppinga (BYU) 2001-2004, Steve Fifita (Utah) 2002-2005.
LB — Rob Morris (BYU) 1999, Kirk Morrison (San Diego State) 2001-2004, Beau Bell (UNLV) 2004-2007.
DB — Brian Urlacher (New Mexico) 1999, Eric Weddle (Utah) 2003-2006, Jamaal Brimmer (UNLV) 2001-2004, Will Demps (San Diego State) 1999-2001.
Punter — Matt Payne (BYU) 2001-2004.
Punt/kick returner — Dexter Wynn (Colorado State) 2000-03.

Three Cowboys picked to all preseason team

From left, Devin Moore, John Fletcher and Ward Dobbs were named to the preseason All-MWC team

LAS VEGAS -- Three Wyoming Cowboys were named to the Mountain West Conference 2008 preseason all-conference team Monday as selected by members of the league's media.

Named to the team from UW were senior linebacker Ward Dobbs, junior defensive tackle John Fletcher and senior Devin Moore as a kick return specialist.

Dobbs earned Honorable Mention All-MWC honors in 2007 after leading the Cowboys with 98 tackles. He was a Second Team All-Conference selection following the 2006 season.

Fletcher earned Second Team All-MWC honors following last season after ranking No. 11 in the nation in sacks, with 10.5. He has also been named to the 2008 Outland Trophy Watch List.

Not only was Moore the Cowboys' leading rusher (965 yards) in 2007, but he also totaled 271 yards in kick returns and had one kick-off return for a touchdown.

Max Hall (BYU) was named Preseason MWC Offensive Player of the Year, Jason Phillips (TCU) was selected Preseason MWC Defensive Player of the Year, Louie Sakoda (Utah) was chosen Preseason MWC Special Teams Player of the Year and Braylon Broughton (TCU) was tabbed Preseason MWC Freshman of the Year.

The 2008 preseason team is loaded with experience, featuring 18 players that were all-Conference selections in 2007, including six first-team honorees. Fifteen seniors, eight juniors and two sophomores comprise the 25-member squad.

---

All-MWC team

Offense

WR -- Austin Collie (BYU), Ryan Wolfe (UNLV).

OL -- Nick Charles (Air Force), Ray Feinga (BYU), Dallas Reynolds (BYU), Blake Schlueter (TCU), Robert Conley (Utah).

TE -- Dennis Pitta (BYU).

QB -- Max Hall (BYU).

RB -- Harvey Unga (BYU), Rodney Ferguson (New Mexico).

Defense

DL -- Jan Jorgensen (BYU), Paul Kruger (Utah), John Fletcher (UW), Ryan Kemp (Air Force).

LB -- Ward Dobbs (UW), Russell Allen (San Diego State), Jason Phillips (TCU).

DB -- Brice McCain (Utah), DeAndre Wright (New Mexico), Stephen Hodge (TCU), Robert Johnson (Utah).

Specialists

P -- Louie Sakoda (Utah).

K -- Louie Sakoda (Utah).

Returner -- Devin Moore (UW).

Offensive Player of the Year: -- Max Hall.

Defensive Player of the Year -- Jason Phillips.

Specialist Player of the Year -- Louie Sakoda.

Freshman of the Year -- Braylon Broughton, TCU

Cowboys picked fifth; BYU No. 1

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn and his Cowboys were picked fifth in the MWC Media Preaseason Poll that was released on Monday.

By Wyoming Sports.org

LAS VEGAS – As expected, the Wyoming Cowboys were picked fifth in the Mountain West Conference media poll released on Monday.

The Cowboys received 156 points in the voting that coincides with the annual preseason Media Days in Las Vegas.

Two-time defending Mountain West Conference football champion BYU was predicted to capture its third consecutive title in 2008. The Cougars made their second straight undefeated run in conference play in 2007, compiling an 8-0 mark against league opponents en route to an 11-2 overall record and a Top 20 ranking in the final USA Today Coaches (t-14), Associated Press (14) and Harris (18) polls.

BYU returns 10 starters from an offensive unit that ranked among the top 25 nationally in passing and total offense a year ago. The Cougars are led by first-team all-MWC honorees Max Hall (QB), Dennis Pitta (TE), Ray Feinga (OL) and Dallas Reynolds (OL). Three starters also return on defense for BYU, which ranked among the top 10 nationally in scoring, rushing and total defense. BYU, which enters the 2008 season with the nation’s longest win streak at 10 games, received 29 first-place votes and a total of 299 points.

Utah was chosen second with 274 points and five first-place votes. The Utes tied for third place (5-3) in conference play in 2007, winning eight of their last nine games and ending the season with a 9-4 mark overall. Utah, which enters the season with the nation’s second-longest bowl win streak at seven games, returns six starters from a defense that ranked among the top 20 nationally in scoring, pass and total defense last season.

TCU was picked to finish third after posting an 8-5 record (4-4 MWC) and winning its third consecutive bowl game last season. The Horned Frogs, who return eight starters on offense and six on defense, totaled 239 points in the poll.

New Mexico was chosen fourth with 197 points, followed by Wyoming (5th – 156 points), Air Force (6th – 141 points), San Diego State (7th – 92 points), Colorado State (8th – 73 points) and UNLV (9th – 59 points).

2008 MWC Preseason Poll
1. BYU (29) -- 299
2. Utah (5) -- 274
3. TCU -- 239
4. New Mexico -- 197
5. Wyoming -- 156
6. Air Force -- 141
7. San Diego State -- 92
8. Colorado State -- 73
9. UNLV -- 59

Cowboys get another tight end

The Wyoming Cowboys seem to be stockpiling tight ends these days, with Stockdale (Calif.) High School tight end Tyler Cottrell agreeing to become a preferred walk-on at Wyoming.

According to the Bakersfield Californian, Cottrell will walk on to Wyoming this fall. For more on the story by Californian staff writer Zach Ewing, click here:

http://www.bakersfield.com/136/story/495445.html

Morgan making the move

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming wide receiver Donate Morgan works out during a spring practice.

Editor's note: This story was originally published this spring on a previous version of Wyoming Sports.org.


By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

During a spring practice, Wyoming junior wide receiver Donate Morgan beat speedy freshman cornerback Ryan Handford on a deep ball. He also dropped a short stationary sideline pass and later made a spectacular diving catch in traffic.

Blessed with arguably as much speed as anyone on the team and maybe in the league, Morgan is going through the transition trials and tribulations of a redshirt walk-on to a probable starter in one season. He takes praise and constructive criticism in stride, nearly as easy as his fleetness on the field.

Morgan is a young man who has lofty goals in his athletic and personal life and knows that it will take fortitude and hard work to achieve them. Not happy with his role at Division II St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., Morgan came west on his own dime for another opportunity.

Transferring to Wyoming, he redshirted last season as a walk-on and earned a scholarship for the 2008 season.

“It was hard from a financial decision. My parents couldn’t afford school, so I had to make a decision that I either stopped playing football or I pursued my dreams,” Morgan said. “I just had to sacrifice and do it. I’ve been successful so far.”

Wyoming receivers coach Ron Wisniewski calls Morgan a “good student and an A-plus person.” Head coach Joe Glenn said Morgan is a “quality kid.”

And they both think he can play football.

“The first day of practice, I could tell he was a scholarship player,” Wisniewski said. “But he couldn’t play because he had to do his year of penance, as I like to call it. He would have played last year if he had been eligible. He’s done a good job in the classroom and we expect him to be a starter this year. He has to earn it and do it, but we expect him to be a big playmaker.”

Morgan did everything he could on the scout team last year, performing as a receiver and running back, whatever the Cowboys needed an athlete to do.

“I knew I was going to have to sit out. I just wanted to help the team, to do whatever I had to do,” Morgan said. “Scholarship players don’t have to deal with that as much, so I knew I had to show what I had and that I would do anything for the team. It was never about me being an individual, it was for the team.”

Morgan not only did his duty as a scout team player, but he opened some eyes.

“I showed that I had the ability to play Division I football,” he said. “They saw that they could trust me to come in and play on a Division I level against the top teams that we will play this year. I just showed them what I had to do and I did it.”

During winter conditioning drills, he beat senior running back Devin Moore in a foot face.

“Yes, it’s true. He (Moore) won’t admit it, he’ll say he was hurt or something like that,” Morgan said with a laugh.

Morgan and fellow wide receiver Chris Johnson give the Cowboys the ability to spread the field with their speed.

“I can get a lot of other people open. There will be a lot of balls for the receivers,” Morgan said.
Wisniewski said the Cowboys have not had a burner on the outside for some time.

“Hoost (Marsh) was a fast guy, but he played in the slot for us; we’ve not had an outside receiver who has super-fast wheels here for the last two or three years,” Wisniewski said. “Donate and Chris will do that for us. We’ll be able to stretch the field and it will make it hard for people to defend us.”

While Morgan has shown signs of ability and quickness, he has also not played a Division I game. Wisniewski said that Morgan has to work on his hands and work on his route running to complete the package.

“But, I promise you that he will be, if not the fastest, one of the top two or three fastest wide receivers in the Mountain West Conference this year,” Wisniewski said.

Last year’s redshirt season and this spring's practices were been nothing but a learning experience for Morgan.

“I’m going to drop passes, but I am going to stay after practice and catch more balls and do what I have to do to get better,” he said. “I want to go to the next level, so I have to work harder than the next guy.”

A Chicago native, Morgan will be the fourth player by this fall to be on the Wyoming roster from Mt. Carmel High School. He joins current Cowboys and former Mt. Carmel High players Keith Lewis (So., CB) and Mark Oliver (RFr., LB) on the roster. A fourth Mt. Carmel alumnus, freshman wide receiver Justin Morgan (no relation), will join the team this fall.

That certainly helped in his decision to come to Wyoming. It was family, however, that might have been the deciding factor. His uncle, Wyoming State Trooper Gaylan Wright, lives and works out of Cheyenne.

“I have family here so I wanted them to watch me play,” Morgan said.

The second youngest of five children of Annette and Carey Wright, family is also the reason he is in school. A business administration major, Morgan said he wants to go to a Fortune 500 company or “just show people how to spend their money or build my own company, be an entrepreneur.”

He said he couldn’t have asked for better role models than his parents.

“My mom and my dad did a lot for me, and I just want to show them that for all of the things that they did for me, I will accomplish my goals,” he said. “I will graduate from college and get a degree. Even if I don’t get to go to the league (NFL), if I get my degree, I just want to make my parents proud. That’s really why I am here.”

Football is a bonus.

“He is all of the things you want from a player on and off the field,” Glenn said.

Evers at home at tight end

Richard Anderson photo
Sheridan native Joe Evers is one of several talented tight ends on the Cowboy roster.

Editors note: This story was first published during spring football on the previous version of Wyoming Sports.org:


By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

Most young football players dream of being the quarterback. As it turned out, Joe Evers was a quarterback who dreamed of being a tight end.

Evers is getting his wish as a sophomore tight end for the Wyoming Cowboys and will go into fall camp as one of four talented players in that position.

A quarterback at Sheridan High School, Evers was a second-team all-state selection his senior season. But admittedly not possessing a great amount of talent at quarterback, Evers wanted to play Division I football and he wanted to play for the Cowboys.

Some smaller schools were willing to take a chance on Evers at quarterback, but at 6-foot-5, he had the frame to put on added weight. Suddenly, tight end became a viable option.

“I have to be honest, I really didn’t have a set plan when I came out of high school because a lot of teams recruited me as just an athlete because I was big, but I only weighed 205 pounds coming out,” Evers said. “A lot of teams didn’t know where to put me, so it was wide open. I wanted to play tight end and they (UW) mentioned it.”

Deciding to play tight end was the first step. The next step was getting the opportunity. Evers got that chance when UW offered him a grayshirt in February of 2005. He now had the option of sitting out a semester and then reporting for spring ball with the idea of earning a scholarship for 2006.

Now at 250 pounds, Evers is following the script to a T.

“It has kind of been a long road, but I feel like it is starting to click; I’m really having fun this spring ball,” he said.

Of course, most quarterbacks in high school don’t get the chance or want the opportunity to block. Tight ends have to block. That was an adjustment in itself for Evers.

“I never had to block … ever; ever since I was growing up,” Evers said. “That was a big step. I kind of felt like I was in over my head for a while. This new offense that Coach (Bob) Cole has put in, I think it really clicks well and it just really comes easily, compared to the past.”

Wyoming assistant coach Casey Glenn said Evers has really progressed not only as an athlete, but as a blocker.

“For a guy who has never blocked, even in high school, obviously he has come a long way in a short time,” Glenn said. “A grayshirt obviously has helped him. He essentially has had an extra redshirt year and that really has helped in positions where you are blocking. He’s a different athlete than he was in high school. His best football is ahead of him.”

Looking back, Evers said he needed every bit of his grayshirt and redshirt seasons to get where he is today. He said that grayshirt was a blessing, not only physically, but socially and academically.

What really helped him was enrolling in school in the fall of 2005, something he wasn’t required to do. He said he was able to get into the dorms and “be around the guys.”

“When I came into spring ball, I was over my head. Everybody else had the fall and the plays are just coming at you,“ he said. “I hadn’t blocked before. It is so much faster than high school. The grayshirt enables me to be here for 5½ years on the education side of it.

That first spring was pretty rough at times, he said

“You’re driving home from practice after a bad day and you start second-guessing yourself,” Evers said. “I’m pretty close with my teammates and they have been really good. If somebody has a bad day or is down, everybody is good about getting them back up.”

Academically, the first semester also taught him how to be a college student.

“The first semester was my lowest GPA, but you are away from your folks and you are kind of living your dream,” Evers said. “But I’m really glad that I came down when I did. I got the hang of how college goes. I would come and watch practices, so I kind of knew how practice went. I felt like I had a good first step in with the guys, which was important."

Physically, Evers has used the past two years to get up to his 250-pound frame. That too, wasn’t easy. He’d gain 10-15 pounds each year, but he also discovered the difference between good weight gain and bad weight gain.

“When I grayshirted, I was probably a little lax on my cardio,” Evers said. “I hit the weights pretty hard. I got up to 220-225 when I reported to spring ball. The first thing I did was go through winter conditioning and I think I lost 10 pounds. It wasn’t good weight.”

Evers would like to try to get between 250 and 260 pounds, as long as he doesn’t hurt his speed.
“The coaches have talked about that. It’s all about gaining good weight,” he said.

Tight ends coach Casey Glenn said that athletically, to go from a player who was receiving the snap, to being a player who has his hands on the ground, makes Evers a special athlete.

“There are not a lot of guys who have the toughness as a quarterback to be able to be a successful, nasty tight end who can block these defensive ends and linebackers that we have here,” Glenn said.

Last season, Evers got on the field and earned a letter, even though he didn’t catch a ball, playing behind graduated senior Wade Betschart and current tight ends Chris Sundberg and Jesson Salyards. Evers did play on special teams, and that was enough for him to know that he made the right decision.

“It’s all worth it,” he said. “I’ve been here a little longer and it has taken me a little longer to get out on the field. But when I stepped out on the field against Virginia, I had that feeling. When you look up into the stands full of Brown and Gold, that’s what it is all about. I felt like it was all worth it. I’m really glad I made the decision to come to Wyoming.”

It’s been a good spring for Evers, as he has shown marked improvement in his blocking game as well as good hands catching the football in heavy traffic.

“I feel like it is all starting to come together for me now, the whole package,” Evers said. “Tight ends have to know all of the running plays, all of the passing plays and all of the variations on both.”

With the addition of junior college transfer Orlando Arnold and Sundberg’s return from injury this fall, the Cowboys will be four deep in the tight end position. Evers said that doesn’t bother him; he said he’ll play his best and let that speak for itself.

“If anything, it will help the team out to have four strong tight ends,” he said. “Coach Cole likes to utilize the tight ends quite a bit. When somebody gets gassed, here comes another. You don’t want the talent level to drop off. I think four pretty strong guys position-wise, that is going to help us out.”

“I just try to go out to every practice and try to get better every day. I can’t get too caught up in the depth chart thing. Obviously, you want to compete and that is what it is all about, competing. It makes the guy ahead of you better, also.”

With the added emphasis on the tight end in this new offense, Casey Glenn said all four players should fit in well.

“I think looking at the guys, if we can get Chris Sundberg healthy and back in the mix, and have the junior college guy come in and help us, obviously we’re very deep there,” Glenn said. “There should be room for all of them.”

The glamour position in football has always been at quarterback. Does Evers wonder if he could still make a certain throw or run a certain play?

Not even a little.

“We throw the ball to each other when we warm up and I can tell that I haven’t thrown the ball since high school. My shoulders are stiff,” he said with a smile. “I like tight end, I’m glad I’m here.”