Of the four scrimmages of fall camp for the University of Wyoming football team, Wednesday’s final one felt most like a fall camp scrimmage.
The first units on offense and defense were very good against the back-ups.
The offense was efficient and productive. There were three touchdowns, including two via the pass by junior-college quarterback Robert Benjamin. More importantly, Benjamin didn’t turn the ball over. He threw for 139 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yarder to junior receiver Travis Burkhalter on the scrimmage’s first play.
“We came out firing today,” Benjamin said.
Coach Dave Christensen didn’t name a starting quarterback, and he said an updated depth chart will early next week. Benjamin would seem to be the front-runner based on the number of snaps he’s taken with the No. 1 offense during camp, along with his overall production and abilities to both run and pass.
“I come out here and try to give my best every day in practice and in every scrimmage,” he said. “Now I just got to wait and see. I’m pretty comfortable (with the offense) now and I’m ready to go forward.”
So is true freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels.
He took equal snaps with Benjamin with the No. 1 offense, and had the best numbers in terms of efficiency among the quarterbacks. Carta-Samuels was 10 of 12 for 125 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had 16 yards rushing on three carries.
It’s difficult to think Carta-Samuels will be the starter, but he may have moved past senior Karsten Sween as the No. 2 quarterback. Sween was 5 of 11 for 37 yards and an interception in the scrimmage.
“All I know is I’ve done what I needed to do,” Carta-Samuels said. “I had a rough week to start, but I bounced back and put myself in the best opportunity to play. If that’s going to be on the field, then it’s going to be on the field. If it’s going to be redshirting, it’s going to be redshirting. All I know is that I’m happy with my performance.”
There were only a few dropped passes by the receivers, and the offensive line across the board didn’t allow a sack and only one tackle for loss.
Injury-wise, senior defensive tackle John Fletcher (knee) and junior running back Darius Terry (ankle) were held out of the scrimamge, but Christensen said both could have played it were a real game. True freshman receiver Chris McNeill (concussion) is expected to be back at full strength early next week.
Sophomore Austin McCoy had the better day among the place-kickers. he was 5 of 6 in field goals and made all four of his extra points. Senior Jake Scott, who was perfect in both field goals and extra points last Saturday, was 3 of 4 in field goals and 4 of 5 in extra points.
Two walk-ons joined the kicking fray, including Cheyenne Central graduate Kraig Tafoya. But both aren’t even allowed to be in should pads just yet because they just joined the team Monday. Tafoya got off to a good start but faltered near the end. The other guy, who even the UW sports information staff didn’t know his name, showed good leg strength.
Christensen said evaluation of this scrimmage and all of fall camp will end at noon Thursday. After that, it is all about preparing for next Saturday’s season-opener against Weber State.
Robert, thanks for doing this blog. It is probably the best reporting on the Pokes out there that I can find. Thanks again and keep up the good work.