Just a little under a year ago, Jovon Bouknight was inducted amongst a group of various prestigious athletes into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame for his time playing as a wide receiver for Cowboy football from 2002-2005. Though some students on campus now weren’t even alive at the time when Bouknight was terrorizing opposing secondaries, his legacy remains one still talked about at length today–and his name has forever been etched as one of the all-time greats in Cowboy football history.
Bouknight’s playing career included the only Las Vegas Bowl victory in program history in 2004 and a myriad of personal accolades and achievements. During his tenure as a wide-out with the Cowboys, Bouknight was able to etch his name in the Mountain West history books, finishing his outstanding career second all-time in the league in receiving yards and career receptions. These accomplishments earn him a nod alongside some of the all-time great receivers to ever come through the Cowboy football program.
Everything has come full circle, as Bouknight is now leading the charge in the wide receivers’ room for the Pokes, set on molding the young skill group into some of the top receiving weapons in the Mountain West.
Bouknight started his coaching career with a short stint working as a graduate assistant under then head coach Joe Glenn, who he also played under during his time as a route-runner for the Pokes. Bouknight’s only season as a graduate assistant was a forgettable one, as the Cowboys finished with an overall record of 4-8 culminating in the firing of Glenn by season’s end.
“I can’t say as a player, it was always in my plans,” Bouknight said of beginning his coaching career under Glenn. “I just kind of learned along the way, just being a student of the game from when I was playing in college.”
While his first season working in the capacity of a coach may not have been as fruitful as he may have hoped, it opened a door of bountiful opportunities for Bouknight to fully propel his coaching career forward.
From there, Bouknight served as the wide receivers’ coach at a familiar Mountain West opponent for the Cowboys, Utah State. Bouknight was a part of one of the most successful spans in Utah State football’s history, aiding them in becoming of the top offensive teams in the nation in 2018.
“I was thrown into the fire a little early when I was at Utah State as a graduate assistant,” Bouknight said. “There wasn’t a wide receivers’ coach and I was thrown into fire…there was some hurdles I had to overcome but I think that’s kind of what helped me.”
After his stint with Utah State, Bouknight jumped around from a few different programs, including stops with Power Four programs such as Oregon, Texas Tech and Kentucky.
However, when the chance arose to return to Laramie and join the staff during the 2024 season, there was no doubt for Bouknight to take the opportunity and run with it.
“Absolutely, it was a no brainer,” Bouknight said of his decision to join the Wyoming staff.
Bouknight spent the 2024 season serving as an offensive analyst before becoming the Cowboys’ full-time receivers’ coach after the season had ended in a 3-9 record. While the season itself was a disappointment, the wide receivers’ room was one of the brightest spots on the team, with many young talents showcasing great promise–even if inconsistently so.
Jaylen Sargent–who will be entering his fifth year with the program this upcoming season–was a major breakout star a season ago, particularly during the latter-half of the year. After only grabbing a total of three receptions for only a handful of yards through his first three years as a Cowboy, Sargent emerged as the top receiving threat for the Cowboys in 2024, totaling 23 receptions for a team-high 480 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sargent had one of his best outings against New Mexico in one of the Cowboys’ few wins a season ago, snagging six receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown.
Bouknight was clear in stating that Sargent should be one of the best players lining up on the offensive side of the ball for the Cowboys this upcoming fall.
“Sargent, man, he ended that season off on a high note,” Bouknight said. “I think he’s kind of picking up right where he left off [this spring].”
Chris Durr Jr was another returner Bouknight mentioned could be poised for a big upcoming season. The now sophomore had quite a productive season as a freshman, finishing with a team-high 31 receptions for 348 yards and a touchdown. Under Bouknight’s direction, Durr Jr. will be looking to make a big second-year jump in production as one of the top targets this fall.
“He’s probably the playmaker of the group,” Bouknight said of Durr Jr. “The highlight guy, very shifty, tough to defend.”
Bouknight also highlighted one last player in his receiver corps, one who isn’t so familiar–that being Jackson Holman, a transfer from Arizona. While Holman saw little action at Arizona, he was a standout at Mission Viejo High School in California, recording 79 receptions for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior season.
“He’s kind of like the blue-collar worker. He’s going to do all the dirty work,” Bouknight said.
While the Cowboys have only just concluded their third week of spring practice, the outlook on the receiving room is exceptionally high and it’s clear the players love playing for Bouknight–and if his previous successes are indicative of anything, this wide receivers’ group is in very good and capable hands.
“He’s really one of the best in the business,” Holman said of Bouknight.
“Where he’s been, who he’s produced, he’s a really great hands-on teacher. He’s done it and he really knows what he’s talking about.”
Bouknight will have his first opportunity to showcase the work he and his wide receivers’ group has put in on August 28 when the Cowboys take to the road to take on Akron.
