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UW's captains to lead a young squad this season

LARAMIE – Sometimes there are three, and often there are four.

But this season, the University of Wyoming football team has six captains.

Redshirt senior quarterback Cameron Coffman, senior running back Shaun Wick and junior guard Chase Roullier are the offensive captains.

The defensive captains are senior defensive ends Eddie Yarbrough and Siaosi Hala'api'api, and junior linebacker Lucas Wacha.

Those four seniors make up half of the seniors on the Cowboys' roster this season.

That total is the second-fewest among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Wake Forest has the fewest with six.

"It's a great opportunity for me because we have so many young guys who need to be led," said Coffman, who will start and play in his first-ever UW game when the Cowboys open the season at 2 p.m.

Saturday at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium.

Coffman transferred from Indiana, but sat out last season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.

He has held UW's starting quarterback job since the first week of spring drills.

Yarbrough is the only returning captain from last season's team.

"It's a great deal of work. You have to always be on your toes, and you have to lead by example," Yarbrough said. "To be put in a position to lead such a wonderful group of men, and be that front-runner for the team, is an honor."

The Cowboys' captains are in charge of a young team.

Second-year coach Craig Bohl said Monday during his weekly news conference that 14 true freshmen will play this season.

"That just means I have to show them what it means to be a Cowboy even more," Wick said.

Bohl said the team selected the captains, which were first announced last Saturday, at the close of fall camp.

"Being a captain, I believe, is the highest honor a guy can receive, because it's an acknowledgment of your teammates that they view you as a leader," Bohl said. "Typically, when you have six captains, it's an indication of a broad-based leadership.

"I spend a great deal of time with those men, and I'm looking forward to working with them."

Added junior wide receiver Tanner Gentry: "I think they're the perfect guys to be chosen to be our leader this year. I feel like they're all guys that can lead by example and lead by what they say, as well."

14 true freshmen

Bohl made it a point to list all of the true freshmen who will play this season:

They include: tight end Josh Harshman of Casper; running back Kellen Overstreet; offensive linemen Zach Wallace and Kaden Jackson; wide receivers Dameko Doddles, James Price, Joe Parker and Justice Murphy; linebackers Kevin Prosser and Christian Irving; defensive end Carl Granderson; safety Andrew Wingard; cornerback Antonio Hull and true freshman kicker Tristan Bailey.

Six true freshmen played last season.

Bohl and his staff had more time to put together their 2015 recruiting class. When they arrived at UW in December of 2013, they had only a few weeks to put together their 2014 class.

"It's an indication of a more mature recruiting class and recruiting efforts, and there are opportunities there when you have a small senior class," Bohl said.

Hull will be UW's primary punt returner this week.

Bohl said Bailey earned the job to handle extra point and field goals.

Special teams is where most of these true freshmen will play right away this season, Bohl said.

No. 3 running back

UW lists Wick and sophomore Brian Hill as its top two running backs.

The No. 3 spot appears to be a contest between sophomore Josh Tapscott and true freshman Kellen Overstreet.

"I'd say it's a little bit fluid," offensive coordinator Brent Vigen said. "Josh and Kellen have a different body of work. Josh goes back to our whole time here (last year).

"Kellen's is shorter, with a couple of live scrimmages, but I think his potential is tremendous.

"Josh has proven himself in some situations he can get the job done."

Tapscott played in five games last season. He had 15 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

Bohl said Overstreet will play more on special teams early, but he expects him to get carries as the season progresses.

Injury report

Bohl said the team is healthy heading into the opener with no new injuries.