Hesitancy isn't generally an issue.

There's nothing Gabe Knapton really fears on the football field, and the Wyoming linebacker is anything but shy when barreling down on a running back.

But the freshman has sort of had to ease his way into the flow in other ways, and Knapton certainly held some things back during an impressive start to his career.

There wasn't much celebration after a big play.

Fewer screams and helmet slaps for the upperclassmen.

Knapton has more than proven he belongs in the rotation with his play by now, and after another startling performance in an 18-tackle effort at UNLV, he's perhaps starting to act more like a linebacker.

"Oh yeah, you know, earlier in the year I didn't want to go out there the first few games and act cocky, I guess," Knapton said. "Now I'm a little more comfortable and feel I can celebrate a little more."

Collectively there's been few reasons to party for the Cowboys this season, but the continued emergence of Knapton is certainly a cause for optimism if nothing else.

He's second on the team in tackles after the huge night against the Rebels, including an assist in the backfield that gave him 2.5 tackles for a loss for the season. He also broke up his third pass of the season, an encouraging sign for a player whose weakness has always been coverage.

Knapton only figures to improve there with more experience, and if the same is true about his run defense there could be plenty more chances for him to let loose after plays over the next three seasons.

"Well, I think it's a redshirt freshman growing up and getting more comfortable with our scheme," defensive coordinator Mike Breske said. "That's something we knew from the beginning, he's going to be a great player here.

"The sooner he understood what his role was, the better off we were going to be. He's been a good player for us, he's going to be a better player next year."

It remains to be seen if he'll have to adjust to a new coaching staff then, but one way or another the Cowboys should be loaded defensively.

Leading tackler Ward Dobbs and sack leader Mike Juergens will both graduate at linebacker, but Weston Johnson and Gabe Knapton are a fine place to start for a unit that appears to be well-stocked behind them.

The entire defensive front will return intact, and the secondary should be considerably better with safety Chris Prosinksi taking charge behind starting cornerbacks Marcell and Tashaun Gipson.

But the anchor could well be a sophomore with tremendous instincts for the football and an affinity for contact - both during the play and, increasingly, after it.

"You know, I just feel there were some games where I was maybe taking on the fullback and Ward was getting all the tackles and stuff like that," Knapton said. "These last few games - every game I'm going to fly around and go 100 percent - but these last few games it seems to have been working out a little bit better.

"Hopefully Saturday will be another game like that."

If it is, the celebration this week might include a Bronze Boot.

Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or austin.ward@trib.com.

SATURDAY: Colorado State at Wyoming, noon.

RECORDS: Rams (5-6, 3-4 Mountain West Conference); Cowboys (4-7, 1-6 MWC).

TRY IT ON: The home team has won the Bronze Boot in all five games since Joe Glenn was hired in 2003.

NUMBERS GAME: Redshirt freshman Gabe Knapton established a new career-high with 18 tackles last week against UNLV and is second on the team with 83 for the season.

HE SAID IT: "Hopefully Saturday will be another game like that." - Knapton.