Craig Bohl is a master at identifying and developing talent, so when the fourth-year Wyoming head coach talks about player development, you better listen. But put earmuffs on the kiddos first.
The 58-year-old Bohl played at Nebraska and began his college coaching career with Power Five teams before jumping from his Huskers' defensive coordinator position to the FCS in 2003. He went 43-2 in the final three of 11 seasons at North Dakota State and won the national championship each year.
Bohl then went back to the FBS in 2014 to take over a Wyoming program that had won 42 games over the last eight years. And he's built the Cowboys into a winner, delivering eight wins last year and their first Mountain West division title. Now all eyes are on Bohl as he tries to bring long-term stability to Laramie.
How will do that? By knocking the bleep out of you.
Paul Myerberg of USA Today Sports caught up with Bohl last week to discuss his program's formula in recruiting and player development. And the veteran head coach gave an incredible answer.
That 'it', they will do what we ask them to do. Now, we've go to [be] smart with what we ask them to do. But that 'it' in football can go a hell of a lot further than what people think. And that's a story. That right there is a story. The guy that's running out there on the West Coast that's a five-star guy that's been shopping around and thinks it's all warm and fuzzy. When the rubber meets the road, they're going to spit the bit out. We're going to have our hand in the dirt and knock the sh*t out of you.
For those scoring at home, Bohl has never signed a five-star — or four-star — recruit in four years. He built the eight-win team by identifying and developing low-ranked prospects, including three-star quarterback Josh Allen, the potential top-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys haven't finished above 106th nationally or eighth in the Mountain West in recruiting under Bohl. Given his history and comments, it's unlikely that will change.
