4. Wyoming Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– The defense was a killer, and now it might get back 11 starters. The pass rush and pressure behind the were good, the run defense was a wall, and overall the defense finished 16th in the nation and allowed 21 points per game. UW held four of the six teams on the slate to 17 points or fewer. Expect more of the same.
– The linebacking corps got bigger. Leading tackler Chad Muma handed some bulk to get up to 242 pounds for his spot in the middle, coming off a 71-stop all-star season. 227-pound Easton Gibbs might not be all that big but he can move, finishing third on the team with 42 stops. Throw in 230-pound Chuck Hicks, and this group brings the thump with the experience.
– The defensive front is missing the bulk in the interior, but there’s a rotation that works. Muma is the team’s best playmaker in the backfield, but the line has young parts that get off the ball in a hurry – tackles Jordan Bertagnole and Cole Godbout are always active. And the best part? The D that was missing its star ends – Solomon Byrd and Garrett Crall – gets them back.
Now all the pressure has to translate into interceptions. The Cowboys came up with just four, with junior corner CJ Coldon leading the way with two along with 26 tackles. He’s good, but the safeties are the stars. Senior Esaias Gandy was second on the team with 44 tackles in his All-Mountain West season.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Wyoming Schedule Analysis