Why Did Tight End John Michael Gyllenborg Stay at Wyoming?

LARAMIE -- What would it look like if John Michael Gyllenborg reached his ceiling during his final season in Laramie?

The devious laugh that followed the question above was telling.

"He should be -- he could be -- the No. 1 guy in the country," Wyoming tight end coach Shannon Moore confidentially said. "That's just the ability he has."

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He's not the only one who feels that way, either.

Jay Sawvel, just moments after the final whistle of the annual spring game, quickly jumped on his soapbox. The 15 offseason practices just concluded, but more importantly, roughly 12 hours prior, the 10-day NCAA Transfer Portal window slammed shut.

He made a list of the Top-10 players the program couldn't afford to lose to free agency. Nine of those names, the Cowboys' second-year head coach added, remain.

No. 84 was likely the most coveted piece of the puzzle.

"John Mike Gyllenborg is a guy that could have gone anywhere he wanted to in the country," Sawvel said. "He's still here."

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound specimen admitted the offers were tempting immediately following Wyoming's disappointing 3-9 campaign last fall, but added he never gave serious consideration to leaving.

Gyllenborg said it wasn't a tough decision. In fact, he downplayed the entire process, despite rumors that six-figure deals from major college programs were being floated in his direction.

"We have a good core group of guys here. It just wasn't a hard decision for us. We knew we were going to stay," he said, referring to fellow seniors like Jack Walsh, Caden Barnett and Jaylen Sargent. "We want to stay and turn this program around from what it was last year and win. That's really what it was -- win."

The program also retained its leading pass catcher and rusher, Chris Durr Jr. and Sam Scott, respectively. Kaden Anderson is back under center, too, after throwing for 955 yards and six touchdowns while playing in parts of nine games and making just three starts.

Gyllenborg, when healthy, has proven to be one of the top targets in the Mountain West Conference. The Leawood, Kansas product missed the opener at Arizona State with a high-ankle sprain. He missed the following game against Idaho, too.

That nagging injury hampered him throughout the non-conference slate. He caught just five passes for 56 yards -- all against North Texas -- as the Cowboys dropped to 0-4 out of the gate.

He was again sidelined in mid-November, forced to watch his team drop a lopsided 24-10 decision to its most-hated rival.

Gyllenborg was told early in the week he would not play against Colorado State. He was caught off guard by the news, he said. His growth plate -- the area around his shoulder/ collarbone -- could snap and puncture his esophagus.

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His outing at San Jose State is indicative of what could be with a clean bill of health.

Gyllenborg snagged five balls for 137 yards that afternoon inside CEFCU Stadium. That production included hauling in a 63-yard touchdown strike from Anderson. He weaved through the Spartans' secondary, outraced a safety and caught the contested heave before cruising into the end zone.

He capped last season with 61 yards on four catches in a 15-14 road upset over Washington State. With just 24 ticks remaining in regulation, Gyllenborg reeled in an 18-yard bullet from Evan Svoboda for the eventual game winner.

He finished with 425 receiving yards on 30 grabs. He found the end zone three times.

Brooklyn Cheek, who spent his first collegiate season at Cal, has been tasked with attempting to cover Gyllenborg this spring.

Good luck.

"It's hard. It's really hard," the redshirt freshman safety said, followed by a slight shake of the head. "He's very physical and he's also a good -- really good -- route runner. So, he has the best of both worlds. I came from guarding a Top-10 tight end over at Cal, Jack Endries (56 catches, 623 yards, 2 touchdowns), and I think he stacks up right there with him, if not better.

"He's super fast, super physical and catches literally everything. It's just almost impossible to guard him."

That's not all.

Moore called Gyllenborg an elite blocker. In fact, during a Saturday scrimmage last April, the entrenched starter requested to be installed into every single run play.

"I think that I took a big step in the run game, and it all starts with the mentality," Gyllenborg added. "You can work on technique and all those sorts of things -- hands, feet, all day long -- but if you don't have that edge, like, I'm going to move this guy, then you're not."

Jake Wilson has witnessed the tireless work ethic firsthand.

He's been taking notes.

"It's an awesome luxury," the redshirt freshman tight end said. "I mean, you're talking about a guy that's probably going to play at the next level. He's super cool, super approachable and he's always teaching us, helping us out. He's a big help for me."

During the first position meeting of the spring, Gyllenborg had a message for the group: Take my job.

If someone can do that, he added, this room -- and offense -- could be one of the best in not only the league, but the nation.

Sawvel says Moore has the most-talent unit in the building. He doesn't disagree.

That all starts with its unquestioned leader.

"He's the best in the country," Moore said. "He's a great leader: the way he takes care of his body, the way he approaches every day ... just like a champion. All of our guys have seen that.

"So, to me, the sky's the limit. It truly, truly is."

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players