Wyoming

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 23, Wyoming OL Caden Barnett

Published

3 months ago

April 4, 2026

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 23, Wyoming OL Caden Barnett

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.

Brian Gutekunst has consistently invested in the offensive line. Since taking over as general manager of the Green Bay Packers in 2018, Gutekunst has drafted 17 offensive linemen. Out of those 17 picks, 12 of them were on Day 3.

With the Packers needing to bolster the depth of their offensive line, Gutekunst could once again target an offensive lineman on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, with a potential target being Caden Barnett. The Wyoming offensive linemen checks in at No. 23 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A native of Texas and a high school offensive tackle, Barnett redshirted during his first season at Wyoming. In 2022, he started one game at right tackle. The following season, Barnett started 10 games at right tackle. In 2024, Barnett started 12 games at right tackle. During his final season at Wyoming, Barnett started 12 games at right guard.

“Caden Barnett represented loyalty for Wyoming in a landscape where that isn’t prioritized enough,” Alex Taylor, a University of Wyoming beat writer for WyoSports, said. “He’s one of the few players in this year’s draft class to play his entire career for one school, and that benefited him enormously with his development since coming out of high school. His continuity in the program allowed him to develop into a key leader for the team.”

At 6-3, 316 pounds, with 33-inch arms and tackle-guard versatility, Barnett certainly checks the boxes for the Packers. Throw in his athleticism and the potential to play center and he screams “Green Bay Day 3 offensive lineman.” Barnett clocked a 1.73 10-yard split, a 4.55 short shuttle, and a 7.65 3-cone.

Barnett is a strong run blocker. He plays with a ton of energy and is always looking for work. The Wyoming product has a high football IQ and understands how to use angles to help him open up running lanes. His athleticism is on full display when he gets out in space. He has nimble feet and moves like a tight end. He doesn’t labor and is quick to hit his landmarks. Barnett plays with a low-center gravity and stays under his blocks to great surge.

“There are several clips of Barnett running 15 yards upfield and pancaking a defensive back on a run play,” Taylor said. “He is very athletic and agile for his size, which allows him to use his size advantage to gain leverage on edges or up the middle. He played both tackle and guard in college, which has given him a variety of looks in run blocking.”

Barnett is probably best suited to play guard at the next level. He’s a bit heavy-legged and quicker edge rushers can give him issues. Get him inside, and he could thrive. During his lone season playing guard, he allowed 1 sack and 18 pressures. Out of those 18 pressures, six of them came against Nevada, where he played 35 snaps at right guard and 30 at right tackle. He stays balanced in his setup and doesn’t panic in his reset. His football acumen shows up in pass protection. He has alert eyes.

“His pass protection is fairly consistent,” Taylor said. “Aside from the occasional blow-by or penalty, Barnett has proven more than capable of defending his quarterback at both guard and tackle. He was playing in one of the worst passing offenses in the country the past two seasons, which made a lot of Wyoming’s plays predictable in certain situations.”

Fit with the Packers

In theory, the Packers have their starting offensive line in place for the upcoming season. They’ll roll out Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Zach Tom to protect Jordan Love.

Adding a player like Barnett, who offers four-position versatility, could prove to be incredibly valuable as the Packers need to bolster the depth of the offensive line.

With his experience, athleticism and work ethic, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Barnett could challenge Belton for reps at right guard.

Even if Taylor doesn’t earn a starting role immediately in Green Bay, adding a player who could play multiple positions on Day 3 of the draft is a great use of resources.

“If anybody knows about Caden Barnett as a prospect, then they’ve probably seen the viral videos of him yelling and screaming up and down the field,” Taylor said. “His energy and willingness to be vocal exemplify who he is as a player. He has no problem leaving everything he has out on the field for his teammates, which isn’t something people can say about every NFL prospect in today’s era of NIL and transferring every other year.

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Wyoming

NWSR issues Flood Watch advisory for portions of Central, Northwest Wyoming

Published

2 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

NWSR issues Flood Watch advisory for portions of Central, Northwest Wyoming

The National Weather Service in Riverton has issued a Flood Watch advisory for portions of central and northwest Wyoming, including Owl Creek, the Bridger Mountains, the Southwest Bighorn Basin, the Absaroka Mountains, and the Cody Foothills. This includes the cities of Cody, Thermopolis, Meeteetse, and Clark, and many areas near or partially in Fremont County. […]

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Wyoming

Wyoming Rodeo Stars Set for National High School Finals

Published

15 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Rodeo Stars Set for National High School Finals

The 78th National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) starts on Sunday, July 19, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and goes through Saturday, July 25, 2026. There are 12 rodeo performances across the seven days, with six in the first round and six in the second round. The top 20 cowboys and cowgirls return to the championship short round at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Wyoming has 51 contestants competing across the 13 rodeo events, plus light rifle and trap shooting.

WYOMING RODEO ATHLETES OPEN COMPETITION AT NHSFR

Yoder’s Hadley Thompson was the All-Around Cowgirl at the 2025 NHSFR. She won national titles in the breakaway roping and goat last year in Rock Springs. Wyoming finished 11th in the team standings last year with 3,750.00 team points. The Cowboy State’s girls placed sixth, and the boys were 25th. Thompson also had the AQHA Horse of the Year for Cowgirls in CD Smokin Miss Kitty. Emeree Tavegie was sixth in pole bending.

The daily rodeo performances are at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The first go ends after Wednesday morning’s performance, while the second go ends after Saturday morning’s performance.

Wyoming State High School Finals Rodeo Results & NHSFR Qualifiers 2026

Wyoming’s contestants and events with their draw

Ryley Alameda – Reined Cow Horse (Mon AM, Thurs PM)

Wade Asay – Reined Cow Horse (Tues PM, Wed AM)

Claire Bilek – Girls Cutting (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Kolton Bonenberger – Bull Riding (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Jace Bowles – Team Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Cooper Brownlee – Shooting Rifle and Shooting Trap

Blue Butler – Breakaway Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM); Goat Tying (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Kolbe Chant – Tie-Down Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Heston Crozier – Shooting Trap

Blake Cushman – Pole Bending (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Karly Davis – Barrel Racing (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Teague Duncan – Saddle Bronc (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Memphis Erdman – Shooting Rifle

Hays Espenscheid – Team Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Kendrie Ewing – Barrel Racing (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Ellie Feathers – Shooting Rifle

Kashley Fornstrom – Barrel Racing (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Kade Fraley – Saddle Bronc (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Landon Gold – Team Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM); Steer Wrestling (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Teague Goodman – Steer Wrestling (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Tanner Griemsman – Team Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Cody Hayden – Boys Cutting (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Rhame Hicks – Goat Tying (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Stone Hooten – Shooting Trap

Coe Hornbuckle – Barrel Racing (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Carter Hutchison – Steer Wrestling (Tues PM, Thurs AM); Tie-Down Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM); Reined Cow Horse (Mon AM, Thurs AM)

Kress Johnson – Team Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Taylor Kimzey – Shooting Rifle

Emma Martin – Pole Bending (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Bella Martinson – Breakaway Roping (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Anna McQueeney – Girls Cutting (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Raden Miller – Steer Wrestling (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Taten Mills – Team Roping (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Owen Monfeldt – Bull Riding (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Ashtyn Noland – Reined Cow Horse (Mon PM, Thurs AM)

Keon Norris – Bareback Riding (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Riggin Pearce – Bull Riding (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Bridger Peil – Tie-Down Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Karly Peterson – Girls Cutting (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Nathan Peterson – Boys Cutting (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Trenton Rogers – Bareback Riding (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Rickie Jo Rourke – Goat Tying (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Tuf Scarborough – Saddle Bronc (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Ty Scarborough – Saddle Bronc (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Stetson St. Clair – Bull Riding (Wed AM, Wed PM); Team Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Whitney Tarver – Team Roping (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Emeree Tavegie – Pole Bending (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Dylan Thar – Breakaway Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Hadley Thompson – Breakaway Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM); Pole Bending (Tues PM, Thurs AM); Goat Tying (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Cruz Viles – Team Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Tuf Weber – Shooting Trap

The Light Rifle competition is on Tuesday, July 21, and the Short Go is on Wednesday, July 22 at 1:30 p.m. The Trap Shooting competition is on Thursday, July 23, and the Short Go is on Friday, July 24 at 8 a.m. The Reined Cow Horse event will start on Monday, July 20, and go through Thursday, July 23, each day at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Reined Cow Horse Championship Short Go is on Friday at 4 p.m. The Cutting Events start on Sunday at 7 p.m., then will run at 9 a.m. from Monday through Friday. The 12th Cutting performance is Saturday, July 25 at 8 a.m. The Cutting Championship Short Go is on Saturday at 2 p.m.