Wyoming’s Jaylen Sargent Looking to Leave a Legacy in Laramie

LARAMIE -- Jaylen Sargent has some serious perspective.

Ask about his frustration level when it came to only catching three passes over a two-year span, he brings up the fact he's playing at the FBS level, has a free education and three hot meals a day.

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How's the grind of spring ball going?

The Logan, Utah product has a quick response to that, too. He doesn't have to be here -- he gets to be here.

"I'm so excited," the senior wide receiver said. "Even when we practice or lift or anything, you know, I'm starting to really want to take advantage of everything that comes to me and is going to better myself.

"It's my last year, you know? I don't want to have no regrets."

In the era of the transfer portal, where instant gratification -- and a pay day -- are often sought after, Sargent still has that old-school mentality.

"I want to be remembered, too, for making plays and just always working hard," he added. "I'm really trying to take that upon myself this year ... I know how the portal gets, man, but I feel like everything the coaches have been preaching here, like, it's helped me grow as a football player and as a man.

"So, I really do appreciate all the coaches."

The feeling is mutual.

Jay Sawvel has made it no secret he was unimpressed with most aspects of the wide-receiver room last fall, on and off the field. Wyoming's second-year head coach sent a message to his program just hours after the season finale at Washington State, telling the team's only all-conference selection, TK King, to find a new home.

Devin Boddie Jr. left mid-season. Long-time position coach Mike Grant also wasn't retained.

Wyoming again featured one of the worst passing attacks in the nation, averaging just under 190 yards per game through the air. Inconsistency at the quarterback spot didn't help matters, either.

Any wideout not named Chris Durr Jr. or Sargent accounted for just 55 catches and four touchdowns, three of which came from Justin Stevenson, who entered free agency at season's end and is now at Utah.

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Sargent chalked up a team-best 480 receiving yards in 2024 on just 23 catches. He added a pair of scores, including a 70-yard pitch and catch in a home loss to San Diego State. The other touchdown was from 68.

He averaged nearly 21 yards a grab. That ranked No. 5 in the nation.

Sawvel doesn't just expect that production from the 6-foot-2 speedster, he wants leadership. He's getting that in spades.

"Jaylen Sargent hadn't had a three-catch year since he's been here and now, you know, he's coming off of a year where he was productive," Sawvel said. "But he's also got leadership capabilities and qualities, and now he's able to do that and empowered that way. He does a good job with that group. He's a really good person and he's doing a really good job right now.

"I'm happy with what he's doing in that room. That room (last year), we were leaderless. So, that's a big deal."

Sargent added that element of his game to his plate this offseason.

"I still have that chip on my shoulder to this day, you know, because I know exactly what he was talking about. I feel like the leadership was hard to come by," Sargent said. "I wanted to change that completely, and that's my job as a senior, to push that agenda. So I'm trying to do that every single day to the best of my abilities."

Former head coach Craig Bohl said back in August of 2021 Sargent could be a true freshman who sees the field early in his career.

That didn't happen.

Grant said the following fall he was pleased with the youngsters effort, but, mentally, he was not yet up to par to be a consistent contributor.

Admittedly, there were some dark times for Sargent. He wanted to be on the field. With a little reassurance from his coaches, teammates and constant, uplifting phone calls from his parents, he added, throwing in the towel was never an option.

His optimistic outlook would not be clouded.

"I'm just really, really happy for Sarge," Wyoming's offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said. "I'm really pleased with him. He took a big step, and obviously had some really big, explosive plays for us, which we needed."

Behind that welcoming, ever-present grin, bushy hairdo and goofy Crocs with the plethora of charms that accompany it -- he says they're comfortable -- is a serious playmaker who is looking to max out his role during his final rodeo on the high plains.

He wants to hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark.

That hasn't been done around here since Tanner Gentry racked up 1,326 back in 2016 when he was hauling in passes from the current NFL MVP, Josh Allen.

Sargent also wants to find the end zone "at least" eight times. The last outside threat to pull that off was his former teammate Isaiah Neyor back in 2021. He snagged a dozen touchdowns and rushed for another.

There's that smile again.

"That's my goal, for sure."