The Cowboys’ second practice of fall camp started at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, and lasted about 2 1/2 hours. It was similar to Monday’s first workout as players were in shorts and helmets and did a lot of fundamental work.
But two days in and the first practice in full pads on until Friday, sophomore quarterback Brett Smith likes what he sees.
“Compared to last spring, last fall camp and this spring we are far beyond where we were in installing our offense,” he said. “It took us a while to get things down. We hit the ground running (Monday) and today was good, too. I feel like I have a lot of chemistry with the guys and the receivers out there.”
“What I love and I know the team loves, is that we install it, we already knew it and we’ve blown through it a high level.”
As far as some of the new offensive players, Smith said true freshmen running backs D.J. May and Shaun Wick have looked good, as have true freshmen receivers Trent Sewell and Nico Brown.
Defensively, new coordinator Chris Tormey also likes what he’s seen through the first two days.
“The thing that sticks out the most to me is the willingness and teachable spirit,” he said. “Guys are buying in and have taken to coaching. The effort has been pretty good, much better than it was a the beginning of spring football.”
Defensive end is one of the most intriguing position battles on the team, and Tormey said sophomore Sonny Puletasi — a projected starter coming out of spring — showed some flashes of effort and big-play ability early in camp. He’s also anxious to look at a pair of newcomers in junior-college transfer Justin Bernthaler and true freshman Sam Awrabi. But until the team gets in full pads, it’s tough to make any judgements. The first padded practice is Friday.
See Wednesday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang, and also www.wyosports.net, for my story on sophomore running back Nehemie Kankolongo and his determination to become a factor in UW’s run game this season. You might be surprised on who his biggest influence has been since he missed last season with a knee injury. Also find out what sophomore kicker Stuart Williams thinks of being the likely guy to take over the place-kicking duties this season.