JUCO players provide instant impact

NICK PUETZ IS ONE OF SIX JC COMMITS

With so many holes to fill on both sides of the ball Coach Christensen and his staff were looking at help on both sides of the ball. The offensive and defensive lines were hurt the hardest by graduation and the wide receivers were unable to stretch the field which severely impacted the offense.

By bringing in six Junior College players the Pokes are able to find players that fit their system and have had a couple of years to develop physically and mentally on the football field. They were certainly help keep the momentum going for the program that could have been decimated with the loss of three starters on the defensive line.

A dozen freshman started for Wyoming last season but you can't count 18 and 19 years old to be impact players in their first year. By bringing in JC players a number of freshman can redshirt this year and spend that time in the weight room and learning the system.

As the 2009 and 2010 classes develop I expect the Cowboys to recruit fewer and fewer players from the JUCO ranks. Hopefully the Pokes won't need to every look for a JUCO QB ever again as Dax Crum was a bust under Glenn and Robert Benjamin has already left Laramie after losing his starting job to Austyn Carta-Samuels.

2010 Player Commitments - Wyoming - Junior College/Transfers
NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL
DeJay Lester	WR	6-1	195	Layton, UT	Snow College
Mazi Ogbonna	WR	6-1	190	Westbury, NY	Snow College
Nick Puetz	OT	6-4	307	Salina, KS	Coffeyville CC
Austin Daniels	CB	5-10	180	Pasadena, CA	Mt. San Antonio College
Kurt Taufaasau	DT	6-2	290	American Samoa, SP	New Mexico Military Int.

Bernard Sumter DT 6-2 310 Roswell, NM New Mexico Military Int.

JUCO signings start today

From today until January 15th Junior College players can sign letters of intent with Division 1 football programs as long as their season is complete.

Right now the Cowboys have a nice crop of JUCO WR's that have verbally commited to UW for 2010.

None of these players have officially signed yet but we will let you know once they sign or any other JC player signs a letter of intent.


Here is a look at the three pack of JUCO recievers that will be Pokes next year.

Jonathan Aiken -WR Ellsworth Community College
Hometown: Sunrise, FL

Listed as 6'4 205 lbs, Aikens runs a 4.4 for the 40 and is rated three stars by Rivals. His combination of size and speed will give the Cowboys a threat on offense that they were missing this year. Caught 31 passes for 449 yards and 6 touchdowns this past year.


Mazi Ogbonna - WR Snow College
Hometown: Hicksville, NY

A talented reciever from nearby Snow College. Ogbonna is an athletic 6'1 200lbs with solid speed. Averaged over 30 yards on kick returns as well as 721 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. Currently rated 1 star by Scout he could be a diamond in the rough for the Cowboys next year.


DeJay Lester - WR Snow College
Hometown: Layton, UT

6'2 195bs Lester can play on both sides of the ball. Not to be confused with Jaydee Luster the Pokes mini PG. A DB his first year at Snow he converted to WR this season. A one star recruit Lester could see time at WR, DB or special teams next year. Handed some kick returns for Snow this year and averaged 24 yards per return.

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Ogbonna and Lester both graduated from Snow College in December and have already moved to Laramie and are ready to enroll for the spring. They can participate in spring practices and give themselves a leg up in getting ready for the 2010 season.