Hendricks on Edge Rushers: ‘Production Pays The Bills’

LARAMIE -- The stat that really "pissed off" Brian Hendricks was the 3-9 record.

Registering just 10.5 sacks, as a unit, is another number Wyoming's defensive ends coach isn't thrilled about.

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Braden Siders led the way with 3.5 of those. DeVonne Harris added two. Sabastian Harsh capped the 2024 campaign with 1.5. Ethan Day tacked on half-a-sack in the season finale at Washington State, too.

None of those guys remain on the roster.

Harris graduated after a six-year tenure on the high plains. The other three have new addresses -- West Virginia, North Carolina State and North Texas, respectively -- after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.

All but Day dealt with extensive injuries last fall, too.

"When it comes to production, production pays the bills," Hendricks said. "Clearly we are wanting everything to be really sexy on a stat sheet -- tackles for loss and sacks -- but the No. 1 key we've got to understand is, before you can even do that right now, we've got to start from scratch.

"We've got to get the basics down."

Jay Sawvel admitted he knew early on last fall this position group would need a revamp, whether the guys above decided to return or not. He dipped into the free-agent pool immediately, bringing in three new edge rushers: Esaia Bogar (Riverside City College), Brayden Wilson (Weber State) and Dawan Martin (Youngstown State).

Wyoming's second-year head coach also inked freshmen Jason Handy (Cedar Park, Texas), Cade Brook (Aurora, Colo.) and Axel Ramazani (Des Moines, Iowa).

Bogar suffered a dislocated wrist last week in practice. Martin is no longer with the program. Ramazani, who is cousins with the recently departed Harrison Waylee, is on campus. He's in street clothes, walking laps around the playing surface as he rehabs from a hip injury.

Handy and Brook will arrive this summer.

Even before any of the above transpired, Sawvel said he will likely revisit the portal in search of an experienced edge rusher.

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Has the boss been happy with the production from this unit three weeks into spring practice?

As a whole, he said, there's plenty of work to do. Individually, though, is another story.

"I'm really happy with what he's doing," Sawvel said, referring to 6-foot-5, 245-pound senior Tyce Westland. "I think he's having a really good spring. I think you see certain improvement. The thing is, of the three defensive ends that played the most for us a year ago, Tyce was the best pass rusher. So, we're fortunate that he's continuing to improve and develop."

Westland, a Pleasanton, Neb., product, tallied three sacks last season to go along with 41 tackles. He also forced and recovered a fumble. That came late in the fourth quarter of a 49-45 come-from-behind road victory over New Mexico.

Sawvel has also been pleased with Wilson, a former two-time All-Big Sky selection. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior racked up a team-best 57 tackles at the FCS level, including 25 solo stops. He also added four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.

"He gives us that physicality," Sawvel said. "He's kind of a heavy-handed guy ... Every once in a while you do want to have a guy that's a big hammer, and we kind of have that. I think that's a good thing."

The Cowboys are also getting a boost on the perimeter from within.

Kevin Sjogren, who showed promise in limited action in 2023, missed all of last season with a knee injury. Adrian Onyeigo also made the move from linebacker to defensive end late last year.

The staff is also high on Eltoum Murgus, who is admittedly "raw." His speed was on full display Tuesday afternoon, blowing past right tackle Braylon Jenkins twice in the same period.

Sophomores Tell Wade and Jordan Turnbull also add depth. The latter injured his Achilles last Saturday and the severity is currently unknown.

Onyeigo, a redshirt freshman from Rogers, Minn., was an early enrollee last spring. He said the difference in the room from last April to now is vastly different.

"I like the trajectory we're on right now," he said. "I feel like there's a lot more selflessness. Everybody is encouraging each other. There's a lot more energy when it comes to, it's not like, let me get my play. It's like, let's, as a defense, have a good play. I'm really liking that, honestly."

Wyoming finished with just 15 team sacks in 2024. That ranked 125th out of 133 FBS programs. Only Nevada (14) and New Mexico (11) had a harder time getting to quarterbacks in the Mountain West. The Cowboys also capped the year with 61 tackles for loss. That lands them 91st overall.

Aaron Bohl, who is entering his second year in the defensive coordinator roll, was quick to point out other troubling numbers he said added to those stats: 191.7 and 5.5.

That's how many yards per game and attempt, respectively, the defense allowed last fall.

"We have to stop the run early, and if we do that, It gets you in positions to be able to do all the fun stuff," he said. "It allows you also to have more fun and cut more guys loose. The second part is understanding, rushing as a group."

He pointed to the '22 squad that tallied 37 sacks.

Harris accounted for 8.5 of those. Oluwaseyi Omotosho tacked on 6.5. Gavin Meyer added 3.5. That's an edge rusher, a linebacker and a defensive tackle, respectively.

"We really didn't have that dynamic of pass rushers, but we had four guys that always pass rush together," Bohl said. "It collapsed so fast, we got a lot of sacks. You get more turnovers, the quarterback is off-kilter and everything like that."

Over the next 33 practices, leading up to the Aug. 28 opener at Akron, the name of the game for this group is fundamentals. Hendricks, who is known to get animated on the sidelines, is preaching the gospel.

He's also seeing the basics come to fruition in front of his eyes.

"Right now, with a bunch of new faces, guys that haven't played here before, you know, we're really raw," he said. "So, it's not about numbers right now, it's about learning the techniques, about learning the playbook. It's about getting lined up.

"... We have to walk before we can run. Right now it's about who we can trust and who their teammates can trust. I think that's the most important thing."

The Cowboys will host an open scrimmage Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 11:00 a.m.