Wyoming safety Ekeler receives Never Flinch Award

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Wyoming fans already knew Wyett Ekeler was unflinchingly Cowboy Tough.

After breaking both of his thumbs against BYU, the senior safety returned to the lineup with casts on both hands and came up with an improbable interception against San Jose State.

During the first half of the Border War football game between UW and Colorado State, Ekeler was recognized at half-court as the 2024 Never Flinch Award winner.

The award is given annually in honor of former UW linebacker Weston Johnson, who lost a valiant battle with cancer on Jan. 17, 2014, in his hometown of Wray, Colorado, at the age of 27.

“This means a lot to me,” said Ekeler, who will graduate from UW in the spring with a degree in American Studies. “This is a great honor.”

Ekeler, who is from Windsor, Colorado, finished his career with 197 tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions, including a spectacular pick-six against Nevada in 2023.

The Pokes played well defensively over the final 10 quarters of the season with a healthier Ekeler leading the unit.

“You can sum up the locker room a little bit with Wyett Ekeler,” head coach Jay Sawvel said as UW nearly upset College Football Playoff–bound Boise State and stunned Washington State at the end of a tough season. “He goes out and plays with two broken thumbs. There’s a lot of guys at a lot of places at that point in the year with the record we were at that would say, ‘No, I’m good, I’ll start training for whatever’s next.’”

Ekeler braved bad roads to come back to Laramie to receive his award alongside Johnson’s parents, Blane and Jill Johnson, and UW defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks, who played with Weston Johnson.

“I know Wyett very well and that’s just his M.O.,” Walsh said regarding seeing many of his teammates battle back from injuries to get back on the field this season despite the disappointing record. “Their character is what makes them do whatever it takes to play football again. We didn’t come here just to go through summer training, spring ball, winter training. We came here to play actual football. When it comes to injuries, they’re going to do whatever it takes to get back.”

Ekeler’s older brother, Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler, was set to play in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs at No. 1 seed Detroit later Saturday. Ekeler will participate in UW’s annual Pro Day in the spring, hoping to join his brother at the next level.