by Robert Gagliardi , Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

LARAMIE - Of the 105 football players who participated in the University of Wyoming's first practice of fall camp Thursday, Robert Benjamin may have been the happiest.

The highly-touted junior- college transfer was the first signee for first-year UW coach Dave Christensen back in December. He was supposed to enroll in school in January and compete - and likely win - the starting quarterback job in Christensen's spread offense.

But academic problems forced Benjamin to scramble just to get to Laramie in time for fall camp.

But Benjamin is here and got his first major college practice under his belt inside UW's indoor practice facility.

"I finally got the monkey off my back," Benjamin said. "It was a big relief. I didn't think too much about anything or any of my past academic problems. I could just go forward."

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Benjamin was the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region I Offensive Player of the Year last season at Phoenix (Ariz.) College and an Honorable Mention NJCAA All-American. He threw for 2,391 yards and 25 touchdowns, and added 468 yards rushing.

Benjamin showed glimpses of what he can do in the Cowboys' first practice, even though the team hasn't put the pads on yet.

Benjamin displayed good arm strength on a couple of throws with offensive back-ups, and had a pair of nice runs in an 11-on-11 drill near the end of practice.

"He's got some athleticism. We'll see how he handles things once we get in pads," said Christensen, who added that he will name a starting quarterback on Sept. 3, the Thursday before the season-opener at home against Weber State.

UW's first practice in full pads is Monday.

"I've seen it happen before, but every kid is different," said Christensen about if he's had a quarterback win the starting job with no experience prior to fall camp.

"How fast can he grasp the system, how well he runs the offense, there's a lot that goes into it. It's very early to build any monuments or make any rash decisions on anything."

What was monumental was Benjamin just getting here.

He took full class loads both during the spring and summer back in Phoenix, and has only been in Laramie for a week. It was thought Benjamin would be in Laramie this summer, but he still had more class work to do.

Even though Christensen said last month during Mountain West Conference Media Days in Las Vegas he expected Benjamin to be here for fall camp, there was some doubt.

"I didn't handle my business in the classroom," Benjamin said. "I needed to go back and take care of that and get my degree. Getting a degree is not a bad thing so I'm glad I did it.

"It was pretty stressful for me. But talking to my mom she said I needed to take care of my business, stay focused and the future will take care of itself; and it did.

"When I spoke to my coaches at Phoenix College they told me to slow down, and they were going to make sure I got everything done. They helped me day by day, and when I had time to get on the field and the weight room I did that."

Redshirt freshman Adam Barry is Benjamin's roommate in the dorms right now. Barry is a former quarterback who was moved to middle linebacker this season. As a quarterback, he thinks Benjamin has what it takes to compete for the starting job, along with senior Karsten Sween, junior Dax Crum and true freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels.

In the first practice Benjamin and Carta-Samuels split time with the third-stringers, while Sween took reps with the starters and Crum with the second unit.

"He's a competitor but also is a laid back guy," Barry said. "But he's ready to compete. He's a guy that everyone seems to like. I think he could (be the starting quarterback), but it's up for grabs right now."

First practice highlights

During the 11-on-11 period, senior defensive end Mike Neuhaus recovered a fumble by Crum and returned it for a touchdown.

Sophomore cornerback Tashaun Gipson intercepted a Sween pass.

"Creating some turnovers was exciting, but unfortunately - like I told the offensive guys - that's the problem we had last year (minus-22 turnover ratio)," Christensen said. "If we're going to turn the ball over on offense we're not going to put those players out there. That is not going to happen."

No longer here

Four players who were on the roster after spring did not return for fall camp.

Senior linebacker Zeb Whipp of Lander couldn't come back from a lingering back injury. He will remain on scholarship, but his scholarship won't count toward the team's allotted 85 by the NCAA.

Senior walk-on linebacker Jimmy DeAndrea didn't return because of a knee injury suffered in the spring.

Two other walk-ons - sophomore receiver Kaither Holiway and freshman tight end Matt Sebade of Lander - also didn't return.

Walk-on update

There were 22 walk-ons who participated in the first practice, and five more will join the team when school starts Aug. 24.

Among the players at practice Thursday were Burns freshman running back Duell Petsch, freshman defensive back Andrew Meredith of Green River and freshman offensive lineman Derrek Jerred of Gillette.

Kicker Kraig Tafoya, a 2006 Cheyenne Central graduate and transfer from Black Hills State in Spearfish, S.D., will be among the players who join the team when school starts.

Injury report

Defensive end Spencer Bruce, free safety Larry Mitchell and linebacker Seth Gilkey - all true freshmen - were in red jerseys and were limited in practice.

Bruce, who is from Gillette, won't play this season because of shoulder surgery. Gilkey is a walk-on.

Up next

The team practices once today at 8:45 a.m. in helmets and no pads.

Saturday's practice also is at 8:45 a.m. in helmets and shoulder pads. Saturday also is media day, and from 3:30-4:30 p.m. there will be an autograph session for fans at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium.

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