Caleb Driskill Leads Wyoming’s ‘Hybrid Crew’ into 2024
LARAMIE -- "The Hybrid Crew."
The slogan plastered across Caleb Driskill's T-shirt really says it all.
While the Gillette product has been known throughout his tenure at Wyoming as a road grader, paving the way for running backs like Xazavian Valladay, Titus Swen and Harrison Waylee, his versatility has been on display this spring.
The senior fullback isn't just a battering ram.
"Definitely, especially with the offensive change," Driskill said, adding that he has lined up at tight end and even in the slot. "Just the way we run things now, I'm definitely going to have to help out a little bit more, which I'm enjoying."
John Michael Gyllenborg, Isaac Schoenfeld and Clay Nanke were the only healthy tight ends during the team's 15 spring practices, forcing Driskill into the mix. When Nick Miles returns from injury and true freshmen Hunter Kallstrom and Jake Wilson arrive on campus, will that still be the case?
Jay Sawvel isn't showing his hand quite yet.
"He's got value and things that he can play tight and he can play fullback. You can do different things with him," Wyoming's first-year head coach said. "He's got really good hands and he blocks well ... So, you know, some of that can look a little bit different once we get to the fall when you get all your bodies."
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Driskill admitted he was exhausted after the 100-plus play open scrimmage, most of which he spent flying off the line and into the opposing secondary. Conditioning, he added, will be a primary focus this offseason.
Sawvel said no matter what role Driskill is in, he's "comfortable" knowing No. 36 is on the field.
That validation didn't fall on deaf ears.
"It means a lot," Driskill said. "It means that my hard work is paying off. I just want to keep getting better. I just want to keep showing them that I can go out and compete, run routes, things like that. It's not just bashing heads."
That's not to say he doesn't enjoy the latter. He does.
Driskill also knows in this new offensive scheme, plays aren't necessarily scripted anymore. His number could get called at any time. His position could change, too.
"I think probably my favorite part is we can run anything out of about anything, you know? There's really no limitations," he said of Jay Johnson's operation. "We can catch a lot of defenses off guard ... I think that part's fun, because you get to see defenses scrambling around as we're running in place. Like I said, we can run anything out of any personnel."
Trust sure won't be an issue.
"I know what he's going to play like," Sawvel said with a smile. "I know how hard he's going to play. So, that's a great thing."
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With more than 11 minutes left in the second quarter and the Cowboys trailing by two touchdowns in last September's season opener, Andrew Peasley climbed under center inside Texas Tech's 5-yard-line.
Wyoming lined up in "13 personnel" -- three tight ends and a lone tailback.
Don't forget the fullback.
The visitors did just that.
Driskill slid out of the backfield and into the flat. With pressure bearing down on him, Peasley lofted a pass that way. Driskill hauled it in around the six and turned up field, beating a safety to the white stripe before plunging into the end zone.
It was just his second career catch. It was his first career touchdown.
His celebration proved that.
Maybe that will be something he can work on before the season?
"I'm just going to focus on running my routes good and working on catching," Driskill laughed. "If I get there, I probably won't know what to do again but, you know what, at least I'm there."
University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players