Pokes Snag Youngstown State Edge Rusher in Portal

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel was looking for an upgrade on the defensive edge with the offseason departures of Braden Siders, Ethan Day and DeVonne Harris.

He's in hopes he did just that with the addition of Dawan Martin.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound graduate transfer from Youngstown State committed to Wyoming on Monday, becoming the 11th member of the 2025 class. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Martin joins fellow incoming defensive end Brayden Wilson (Weber State), who rolled up 11.5 sacks over the last two years while landing Big Sky Honors. Sawvel and Co. also inked freshmen Cade Brook (Aurora, Colo.) and Axel Ramazani (Des Moines, Iowa) in early December.

That duo will slide in with returners Sabastian Harsh, Kevin Sjogren, Tyce Westland, Eltoum Murgus, Jordan Turnbull and Tell Wade.

Martin tallied seven sacks over the last three years. He's also tacked on eight tackles for loss in just 31 career outings for the Penguins. The Youngstown native added 31 tackles and a forced fumble to his résumé, too.

After hitting the open market on Dec. 4, Martin was offered by UAB, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Kennesaw State Miami (Ohio), Delaware, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, James Madison and Wyoming's Mountain West foes, Nevada.

The Cowboys have now added nine defensive players in the portal, including five -- BJ Inmon (Snow College), Jaden DeCosta (Portland State), Justin Taylor (Wisconsin), Brooklyn Cheek (Cal) and Desman Hearns (Southern Illinois) -- in the secondary. Linebackers Ethan Stuhlsatz (Lindenwood) and Brayden Johnson (Oklahoma Baptist) have also signed, along with Martin and Wilson.

Running back Terron Kellman (Charlotte), who signed with Wyoming Saturday, and wideout Eric Richardson (Northwest Missouri State) are the two offensive additions.

Fourteen players left the program this offseason, including just four starters.

The team is expected to welcome two more transfers this week, according to a source familiar with the situation. The staff is still looking to add an experienced quarterback, an offensive linemen and possibly two more wideouts.

Spring football practice at UW is set to begin March 25.

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