Welcome to Wyoming Football: Eric Richardson

LARAMIE -- Wyoming has welcomed nearly 50 new faces this offseason.

Transfer portal era, am I right?

Jay Sawvel knew a rebuild on defense was in order after losing both starting linebackers and safeties, along with leaders like Jordan Bertagnole and DeVonne Harris. The departures of Wrook Brown, Sabastian Harsh and Keany Parks only magnified things.

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The second-year head coach got busy, inking a dozen transfers on that side of the ball on February's traditional signing day and adding three more since the annual spring game.

On the other side of the ball, the damage was limited.

Yes, running back Harrison Waylee is now at Virginia. Young wideout Justin Stevenson is a Utah Ute now, too. But if you ask Sawvel, he kept the players he wanted on offense, beginning with quarterback Kaden Anderson.

Three of the Cowboys' top linemen -- Jack Walsh, Caden Barnett and Wes King -- are also back. So is tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, wide receivers Chris Durr Jr. and Jaylen Sargent, along with leading rusher Sam Scott.

So, without further ado, let's spent the summer meeting the new players that litter this 2025 roster:

NAME | Eric Richardson

YEAR | Junior

HT/WT | 5',11", 193

HOMETOWN | Saint Robert, Mo.

POSITION | Wide receiver

JERSEY NUMBER | 2

PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Northwest Missouri State

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Two

NOTABLE | Richardson snagged 25 passes for 411 yards and a team-high six touchdowns. He found the end zone in four straight games last fall for the Bearcats. He was also a deep threat, capping his season with explosive plays of 68, 46 and 44 yards. Richardson missed the entire spring with a torn pectoral muscle.

QUOTABLE | "I've been really pleased with where we're at, you know? I think Jaylan Bean is coming along and obviously Bricen Brantley. (Clay) Nanke has a skill set. I think you see Deion DeBlanc and what he can do with the ball in his hands. And then you still have (Chris) Durr and Jaylen Sargent, who are both playing really well. We don't have Richardson right now, going through the spring -- he'll be fine for summer workouts -- but he's probably the fastest of the group, which is a good thing." -- Jay Sawvel on the Cowboys' wide receiver room

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Why did tight end John Michael Gyllenborg stay at Wyoming?

* Wyoming's Jaylen Sargent Looking to Leave a Legacy in Laramie

* 'He's going to be special': Bricen Brantley turning heads

* Wyoming Cowboys Football: A Mother's Day Tribute

* Former North Texas running back Damashja Harris inks with Pokes

* Cowboys land edge rusher from FAU in portal

* Cowboys go back to the well to sign latest defensive end

* Wyoming receives commitment from 6'6" senior wideout

* Tuck's Take: Wyoming won today's Brown and Gold Spring Game

* Who is No. 44?: 'He's a kid that's going to show up'

* Wyoming loses starting cornerback to transfer portal

* Wyoming's Dante Drake has been a menace in the trenches

* Cowboys plan to add another QB after Batiste departure

* Wyoming's rookie corner is turning heads this spring

* Double or nothing: Pokes' makeshift front five falters late

* Wyoming looking to add to roster with spring portal looming

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