Holman, Harris bolster Wyoming backfield in spring workouts

Markell Holman and Samuel 'Tote' Harris have changed the feel of Wyoming’s backfield in Laramie, giving the Cowboys a clearer push for carries as the offense tries to take a step forward in 2026. Holman arrived from Western Illinois with 1,000-yard experience and the distinction of having led the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing, while Harris entered spring as Wyoming’s top returning rusher and the most established holdover in a room that suddenly looks deeper and faster.

That competition matters because Wyoming’s offense already showed it could run the ball. The Cowboys finished 2025 with one of the Mountain West’s better rushing attacks, but the staff has made it clear the next version needs more pace and tempo. Harris gives that plan a familiar piece to build around. He earned Old Trapper Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors in September 2025 and delivered his best performance against No. 20 Utah on Sept. 15, when he ran for a career-high 68 yards. His value has gone beyond pure speed, too, with the staff noting his blocking as part of what makes him stand out.

Holman brings a different profile. At Western Illinois, he proved he could carry a larger load and produce at a high level over a full season, which makes him more than just depth behind Harris. That variety gives Wyoming a chance to attack defenses in different ways, especially if the Cowboys want to play faster and force opponents to defend every snap. Diore Hubbard, a transfer from West Virginia, adds another layer to the mix and gives the Cowboys three backs with enough experience to change the tone of the room.

Jay Sawvel said Wyoming opened spring with 32 returning letterwinners and 26 newcomers, a roster mix that reflects how much the program is still being shaped. The Cowboys began spring practice March 24 with the first of 15 workouts, and Sawvel has emphasized that the offense must operate with more urgency as it installs a new vision. “We’ve got to up our pace, up our tempo,” he said.

That overhaul will keep unfolding through the rest of spring practice and into the annual Spring Game at War Memorial Stadium on April 25. For a team that already ran the ball well last season, the question now is whether Holman, Harris and Hubbard can turn that strength into a more explosive and more durable identity for fall.