Ben Florentine Named a Nominee for Burlsworth Trophy: The Burlsworth Trophy announces 79 players nominated from Division 1 (FBS) schools from across the country for the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy. University of Wyoming nose tackle Ben Florentine was named a nominee. In the award’s 16th year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth’s life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER,” which was released in 2016. Florentine, a native of Anaheim, Calif. joined the Cowboys in 2021 as a walk-on. He has appeared in 34 career games and has started 20-sttaight games dating back to last season. He has 63 career tackles including a career-high 26 so far this season. He leads the team with five sacks and six tackles for loss.  He was the first interior defensive lineman to have a sack in four-straight games for the Pokes in the MW era of Cowboy football after recording one the 2024 season and one in each of the first three games of this season.  He also has recorded a blocked field goal on the season. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a Walk-On and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.

Gyllenborg Earns Invite to East-West Shrine Game: Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg received an invite to the East-West Shrine Game last Week. He has 67 career catches for 916 career yards with seven touchdowns. This season, Gyllenborg has 11 catches for 110 yards and a score after missing time with an injury.

Another Linebacker in Double Digits: Linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz recorded 10 tackles for the Cowboys at San Diego State. It marked the most in a game by him since having 12 against Illinois State when he played at Lindenwood University. His 10 tackles was a career-high with the Brown and Gold. It was the second most by a Cowboy linebacker as Evan Eller had 12 against Utah.

Seeds Makes a Play: Defensive tackle Tegen Seeds play significant time at San Diego State for the first time in his career. He made it count recording an interception in the first half. It was the first of his young career and was the first by an interior lineman since Cole Godbout had one against Fresno State in 2023.

The Breakup: Cornerback Tyrese Boss is having a strong redshirt freshman season for the Cowboys. He has started all nine games and has 36 tackles. He is also tied for the team lead with five pass breakups, as he and fellow corner Dainsus Miller lead the team. He had two pass breakups at San Diego State. The Pokes have nine interceptions on the season, which is more than last season and have 32 pass breakups, which UW had 34 total last season.

The Linebackers: The Cowboy linebackers are having a strong season. Brayden Johnson leads the team with 53 tackles with Evan Eller adding 49. Ethan Stuhlsatz and Enock Sibomana have combined for 54 on the season, as that group has recorded over a quarter of the Cowboys tackles this season.

Bart Earns Another Honor: Punter Bart Edmiston has another solid week punting the ball averaging 50.5 yards per punt at San Diego State. He had a long of 59 yards and recorded one punt inside the 20-yard line. He has been named to Ray’s Eight List each back-to-back weeks, as the honor is put out weekly by the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s best punter. He ranks xx in the nation averaging 46 yards per punt this season.

b>On The Road Again: The Cowboys will hit the road again this week this time heading to Fresno State for the first time since the 2022 season. It marks the first time this season that the cowboys have played back-to-back games on the road. The Pokes close the season with three road games in the month of November with the only home contest in the month coming on November 22 against Nevada.

Big Target for Pokes: Wide receiver Michael Fitzgerald II has been coming on strong for the Pokes. He has nine receptions on the season for 146 yards with three touchdowns. He grabbed three catches for a season-high at San Diego State for 46 yards. He has a catch in five-straight games for the Brown and Gold and has a touchdown in three of the last five games.

About Fresno State: Fresno State is coming off an impressive 30-7 road victory over Boise State on Nov. 1, which snapped the Broncos’ 16-game winning streak on the blue turf.

Rayshon Luke rushed for 88 yards and Bryson Donelson, Brandon Ramirez and Elijah Gilliam each ran for a touchdown as the Bulldogs piled up 189 yards on the ground. Quarterback Carson Conklin was 10-for-21 passing for 35 yards but did not turn the ball over. Fresno State’s starter, E.J. Warner, was benched after seven games after passing for 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Defensively, the Bulldogs are allowing 21.8 points (tied for 41st in the FBS) and only 300.9 yards (16th) per game. Finn Claypool is fourth in the Mountain West with 5.5 sacks and 8th with 7.0 tackles for loss. Nickel back Simeon Harris has three interceptions and linebacker K’vion Thunderbird has two interceptions.

Fresno State leads the series with Wyoming 9-6. The Cowboys won the last meeting 24-19 in Laramie in 2023. UW’s last road win was a 45-17 victory in 2014 at Bulldog Stadium in which Brian Hill set the Mountain West record for all-purpose yards with 387.