The University of Wyoming Cowboys will see a new starting quarterback this Saturday, as Kaden Anderson is set to lead the team in their matchup against New Mexico, 7220sports.com reports.
Anderson, a redshirt freshman, stepped up in last week’s 27-25 loss to Utah State, completing 15 of 24 passes for 182 yards and guiding Wyoming on five of its six scoring drives. Head Coach Jay Sawvel confirmed Anderson’s starting role during a Monday press conference.
“I thought he performed pretty well,” said Sawvel.
He added that while Anderson had a couple of risky decisions, he managed the offense effectively.
“He did a really good job of keeping us in a rhythm, keeping us in a flow,” he added.
For Anderson, a former high school backup to Texas standout Quinn Ewers, the opportunity is both exciting and nerve-wracking.
“I kind of got little butterflies… If I just execute at a high level and get the ball to the playmakers, I think we have a really good shot,” Anderson said.
Anderson has seen limited playing time this season, mostly entering games late, but he became a key part of Wyoming’s offense against Utah State. The switch to Anderson follows ongoing struggles by junior Evan Svoboda, who has completed under 47% of his passes and has thrown seven interceptions this season. Although Svoboda led the Cowboys’ first scoring drive with a field goal, he was intercepted late in the second quarter, contributing to a Utah State halftime lead.
Despite Anderson’s starting role, Sawvel emphasized his continued support for Svoboda.
“I reinforced my confidence in him,” Sawvel said.
He noted that Svoboda’s challenges haven’t been solely his responsibility, as other areas of the offense have had breakdowns.
The Cowboys, currently at 1-7 for the season, are looking to secure a win against New Mexico (3-5) at University Stadium in Albuquerque. The game will kick off at 2 p.m. Mountain Time and air on TruTV.
