Coffman back at QB for Cowboys, Finley to start at corner

LARAMIE -- There was significant movement on the University of Wyoming's two-deep roster heading into its third game of the season Saturday at Washington State.

The most notable was redshirt senior Cameron Coffman being back at starting quarterback. Coffman missed last Saturday's 48-29 home loss to Eastern Michigan with a knee injury.

UW coach Craig Bohl said during his weekly news conference Monday he expected Coffman to be at "full speed" when the Cowboys practiced later that day.

"It's better than last week, and hopefully it gets better as the week goes on," Coffman said.

Bohl said Coffman could have played in an emergency situation last Saturday. Coffman said "I probably could have dropped back and thrown the ball, but that's about it.

"I couldn't move around too well to escape the pocket. It probably was best I sat out so I didn't hurt it any worse."

Redshirt freshman Nick Smith is UW's backup quarterback the rest of the season. He replaced sophomore Josh Allen, who had season-ending surgery on his shoulder Monday after being hit on the Cowboys' second offensive series last week.

Bohl said UW will apply for a medical redshirt for Allen with the NCAA, and is optimistic it will be granted.

Coffman was 19 of 27 for 282 yards and two touchdowns in UW's season-opening 24-13 loss to North Dakota, which was his first game for UW after transferring last year from Indiana. Bohl said there are things Coffman needs to improve on from his first game and Coffman agrees.

"Making sure I'm seeing the coverages, setting the protections right, making the right reads and getting the ball the right guys' hands," Coffman said.

There were two other significant changes to the offensive depth chart.

True freshman Zach Wallace gets the start at right offensive tackle. Bohl said sophomore Taylor Knestis (concussion) is out this week.

Sophomore running back Brian Hill will start over senior Shaun Wick, due in large part to Hill's 21 carries for 242 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern Michigan.

However, Bohl said both will get equal carries and liked how Wick ran the ball last week with 76 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown.

Defensively, senior Tyran Finley starts at field cornerback in place of redshirt freshman walk-on Anthony Makransky.

Finley played most of the second half last week, and led UW last season with two interceptions.

"He's got good speed," UW pass game coordinator and safeties coach Curt Mallory said. "He is older. He's played a little bit before. He waited his turn, worked his way in there and stayed positive. We expect him to go in there and do a good job."

Junior D.J. May is back as the starter at strong-side linebacker.

May missed the Eastern Michigan game due to a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules.

Hill honored

Hill was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week Monday by College Sports Madness, a website that covers college sports.

Hill's 242 yards was the second-best game in the NCAA this season. The best was by Florida State's Dalvin Cook, who had 266 yards last Saturday against South Florida.

Cook was named the College Sports Madness National Offensive Player of the Week.

Hill has two 200-yard game in his UW career, and his effort last week was the fourth-best single-game effort in school history.

For the season, Hill has nine runs of 10 yards or more, including a long of 65 yards.

Faaiu gone

Bohl said junior defensive end Tavita Faaiu left the team for personal reasons, and returned home San Francisco to be with his family.

Faaiu, a junior-college transfer from San Francisco City College, played in UW's season-opener against North Dakota and recorded two tackles. He was the backup to senior Siaosi Hala'api'api.

That role now goes to junior Adam Kinder, who missed some time during fall camp with a shoulder injury.

Early scare for Yarbrough

Senior defensive end Eddie Yarbrough was injured on the first play against Eastern Michigan, and had to be helped off the field as he favored his right leg.

Yarbrough returned on the next series and played the rest of the game. He finished with three tackles and half a tackle for loss.

"I was coming on a pass rush, was turning and I'm pretty sure I got leg-whipped and kind of got rolled up on," Yarbrough said.

"I will be fine. I should be playing this Saturday. It stunned me.

"They checked everything in the knee and everything is going to be just fine."

Yarbrough leads all UW defensive linemen with six tackles in two games, and he has the team's only quarterback sack.