Pokes Snag 3-Star QB Deyon Batiste out of Greater Houston Area

LARAMIE -- Three days before the official early signing period began, safety prospect Devyn Hidrogo announced he would not be committing to Wyoming after all.

A handful of minutes later, a graphic appeared on his Twitter account.

The three-star safety prospect from Franklin, Texas was wearing the purple and black of TCU. The words "100% committed" followed.

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You win some, you lose some. That's recruiting.

Back in mid-June, Deyon Batiste posted a graphic of his own.

It also said "committed," accompanied by a pair of tornado emojis. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound prostyle quarterback was destined for Ames, all set to join the Iowa State football program. The Dear John letter, via social media, came six months later.

"After many prayers and talks with my family, I believe it is in my best interest to decommit from Iowa State," he wrote in part. "God makes no mistakes. My recruitment is now 100% open."

Gordie Haug pounced.

Wyoming's Executive Director of Recruiting said he had some connections in the Houston area. He made the call. Turns out, Batiste had interest, too. Meetings were arranged. So was a trip to Laramie, which always culminates in a snowmobile trip through the Snowy Range.

"There was some unhappiness with his situation," Haug said of the three-star southpaw from Cypress Park High School in Katy, Texas. "We're not going to go into anything like that, but he met with coach (Jay) Sawvel and coach (Mike) Grant, and we had the opportunity to get him up and make sure that he felt like this was a place that he can see himself playing. He said 'yes,' so we're really excited about him, his potential and what he can become."

ESPN ranked Batiste the No. 205 overall recruit in talent-rich Texas. A local outlet, TX Top Talent, listed him as the 22nd-best signal caller in the Lone Star State out of 75 quarterbacks rated entering the 2023 campaign.

Batiste threw for 1,113 yards while completing 74-of-145 pass attempts. He added nine touchdowns through the air and another three on the ground. Iowa State obviously wanted him. So did Army, Texas State and Stetson.

According to 27sports.com, Batiste amassed 787 passing yards and tossed four touchdowns as a junior. He was also picked off four times while completing just 41% of his throws. He saw limited time under center during his sophomore season. He completed just 5-of-9 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

Haug said Wednesday Batiste, like Josh Allen, Sean Chambers, Levi Williams and Evan Svoboda, fits the prototypical QB Wyoming is looking for: Big frame, big arm. He also has all the tools and the character, too, Haug added.

"We're excited about him and his commitment to us," he said. "... He is committing to the program, to coach Sawvel and to us. Obviously (we don't have) an offensive coordinator right now, so it's a big deal.

"He wants to be a Wyoming Cowboy."

Batiste joins a quarterback room in Laramie that includes Svoboda, who has already been deemed the top signal caller on the roster heading into the offseason, along with Iowa transfer Carson May, former three-star recruit Kaden Anderson from Southlake Carroll (Texas), veteran Jayden Clemons and walk-on Gage Brook.

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