Injuries mean opportunities for UW receivers, secondary guys

LARAMIE - Craig Bohl described it as taking lemons and making lemonade out of them.

The third-year University of Wyoming football coach referred to the extra practice reps several guys at wide receiver and in the defensive secondary have received in fall camp due to minor injuries to some projected starters.

UW's top two wide receivers - seniors Tanner Gentry and Jake Maulhardt - have dealt with hamstring strains for much of camp. Same can be said for sophomore free safety Andrew Wingard and junior cornerback Robert Priester.

All four are getting better and doing more in practice as UW enters its final week of camp. But in the meantime, it's more reps for several projected backups - and newcomers - with the No. 1 offensive and defensive units.

"It gave me and other guys opportunities to show what we can do, especially me as a true freshman," wide receiver John Okwoli said. "It's helped me get acclimated with the offense more, and get better as a player.

"It's been mentally more taxing than physically. I've had to learn the offense faster the last two weeks, and the offense we ran in high school was a lot simpler than this one. I still have some faults here and there, but I'm picking it up."

Bohl said Okwoli (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and redshirt freshman Austin Conway (5-10, 172) have "exceeded" his expectations so far in camp. Conway joined the football team last spring after redshirting with the basketball team during the 2015-16 season.

In UW's first scrimmage of camp last Saturday, Okwoli caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from redshirt sophomore starting quarterback Josh Allen. Conway led the Cowboys with 100 all-purpose yards (59 rushing, 13 receiving and 28 on one kickoff return).

In the secondary, Wingard is coming off a Freshman All-America season in 2015 where he led UW and was fourth in the nation with 6.9 solo tackles per game. Priester is the most experienced player UW has in the secondary. He's played in 22 games, made 17 starts and has 89 tackles, forced three fumbles and broken up five passes.

Redshirt freshman Davion Freeman was listed as the backup at both cornerback spots entering camp. Freeman and junior college transfer Rico Gafford have taken a lot of practice snaps with the No. 1 defense with Priester out.

"Those reps have help me a lot," said Freeman, who is one of the fastest players on the team but also one of the smallest at 5-9, 169.

"Last season I wasn't out there experiencing the plays. I was learning them, but it's different to go out there and try to execute them. Now I'm learning more how things work, and reacting more instead of thinking."

Gafford signed with UW out of Iowa Western College, and was supposed to enroll in January. However, one of his junior college classes didn't transfer and he wasn't allowed to participate in team activities until this summer.

"Camp has helped me learn the defense a lot more and get used to playing with the guys," said the 5-11, 180-pound Gafford. "We know Robert is a good player and he'll come in and make plays.

"Having Robert back pushes the depth chart back, but all of us can still compete for playing time and a starting spot."

Sophomore Chavez Pownell Jr., (5-11, 198) is listed as the backup behind Wingard. Last season, Pownell recorded 18 tackles in 11 games. Most of that production came in UW's season-opener against North Dakota where he had 16 tackles.

"I have to prove I can play, just like the rest of us out there," Pownell said. "Camp hasn't been too much different for me. I expected to come into camp and do what I've been doing. The reps are nice. I like being out there. Its fun learning and getting better every day."

Perhaps UW's wide receiver and secondary groups will be better in the long run.