Cowboys Look Internally For Latest Cornerback Prospect

LARAMIE -- "They switched me."

Caleb Merritt made that statement after it was revealed Tuesday he was making the move from wide receiver to cornerback.

More importantly, the sophomore said it with a smile.

"It should be good," the 5-foot-11, 187-pound St. Louis product said. "They have me doing both in the spring game, so I'll be on offense and defense, trying stuff out. It's nothing permanent right now. They want to see how I can move in a live setting."

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Merritt has just two career catches during his three seasons on campus. The program also added outside weapons this offseason in Texas Tech's TK King and Jaylan Bean from Garden City Community College. Those two join an already crowded wide receivers room that also includes Will Pelissier, Alex Brown, Devin Boddie Jr., Justin Stevenson, Jaylen Sargent and others.

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Wyoming doesn't have that luxury when it comes to covering those guys.

Jay Sawvel has already said senior Tyrecus Davis will start on the outside, adding he was the team's best cover corner in 2023. After him, the head coach said, it's a wide-open race, especially with Ian Bell and Keany Parks (who was moved from running back to corner last fall) limited with injuries this spring.

Merritt said Sawvel initially offered him out of John Burroughs High School to play the corner position. He suited up at defensive back during his prep days, earning a three-star rating, along with dubbing him the 19th-best prospect in the state of Missouri.

His versatility caught the attention of Power-Four programs like Kansas, Kansas State and Purdue. A number of Ivy League schools came calling, too.

"He was always talking about, like, 'yeah, you might want to make the move to the dark side.' He just never was able to do anything," Merritt joked, referring to Sawvel, who was Wyoming's defensive coordinator over the previous four seasons. "Now, he's the head coach. He talked me into it."

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Even after one practice, Merritt's peers took notice.

"He's a really good athlete, so I think he'll do really well at corner," strong safety Isaac White said. "I think Tyrecus will get him right."

"It's just new for him," free safety Wyett Ekeler added. "I'm excited for him to see what he can do. I think he's going to be really good at it. He's got the build for it."

What sets Merritt apart and can put this potential full-time move on the fast track?

"I think my biggest strength as a receiver was knowing what everybody is supposed to do," he said with a grin. "If you can figure out how to do that on defense, it just turns into a pick."

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players