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Granderson puts on pounds for Wyoming

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - As is, it would be hard to miss the changes in Carl Granderson as he enters his sophomore fall camp.

But Craig Bohl is making sure everyone takes note.

The third-year Wyoming coach has repeatedly brought up Granderson's change in physique, throwing around Granderson's new weight of 243 pounds in conversation like he's getting paid by the mention.

The defensive end from Sacramento, California, is more or less the designated poster boy for the Cowboys' much-needed physical improvement over the offseason.

It'd be hard to find a much better choice.

The 6-foot-5 Granderson played at 200 pounds last year, Bohl said.

"I think for Carl, the biggest thing is he started showing consistency in the weight room and his nutrition off the field," defensive ends coach A.J. Cooper said. "He saw why he was having success (and) kept doing it, kept doing it, kept doing it. He's got such a unique body where he could put that type of weight on."

While playing in all 12 games as a true freshman, Granderson could tell he needed the extra heft. The size of San Diego State's tight ends in particular sent the message.

"I just took that as a lesson," Granderson said. "I've got to get my weight up, so I can be bouncing them around instead of them bouncing me around at 200."

First-year strength and conditioning coach Russell Dennison was instrumental in helping Granderson put on the right type of weight.

"He helped me with not just fat but turning it into muscle and staying in shape in conditioning," Granderson said.

So how'd he do it?

Extra time in the gym played a big part. Granderson added lifting sessions in the evening after already having lifted with the team earlier in the day.

"And I eat more," Granderson said. "I'm constantly eating."

The secret diet?

"Eggs, Top Ramen and oatmeal," he said. "All day every day."

Granderson also had to make up for some lost weight on the back of his head. Like running back Brian Hill, he's entering this fall camp without any dreadlocks flowing behind him.

"(Hill) saw when I cut mine and he saw that I looked handsome, so that's when he decided to cut his that next week," Granderson said.

Those ounces of hair notwithstanding, Granderson's physique is emblematic of the Cowboys' offseason dedication to adding weight, especially in the trenches.

Wyoming can use more girth on the defensive line; the Cowboys registered just 10 sacks last season, second worst in the nation.

Two hundred forty-five new pounds came via the addition of junior college transfer Taniela Lolohea. Plus, redshirt freshman Josiah Hall, listed at 232 pounds, currently sits second on the depth chart behind Granderson, who cites Lolohea and Hall's weights as 250 and 240 pounds, respectively.

"It's looking lovely this year, because as you can see we've got bigger D-ends," Granderson said. "... So we're able to crash the pocket now and work as a whole group on the front line."

Seven of Wyoming's sacks last year came from then-senior Eddie Yarbrough. Though Yarbrough is now with the Denver Broncos, his influence has lingered.

"It's funny to see some different idiosyncrasies that Carl will do," Bohl said. "He'll stand like Eddie used to stand. He'll have a couple sayings. He's growling when he rushes."

And with a year of experience under his belt, Granderson has been able to hone his pass-rushing technique.

"With our D-line, we're a technical defense," Cooper said. "We ask them to be vertical, attacking players, but there's a lot of technique involved. There's not a lot of X's and O's of scheme for those guys, but you can tell (the difference).

"... As we say, the best thing about a freshman is they become a sophomore. And so you're seeing him growing and learning. Him and I aren't talking about base things anymore. We're moving to more deeper concepts, if you will, more extensive things, because he's doing the base fundamentals well."

And, of course, reducing Granderson to simply "243 plus technique," leaves out the most important part of the equation: speed.

"We've been monitoring (his weight gain) really closely," Cooper said. "His best attribute is speed, explosiveness, and we want to make sure he keeps that. I know he's seeing a difference. He's putting his hands on people.

"Like I told him yesterday, 'Hey, last spring or last fall you'd hit something and you'd bounce off them. Now people are bouncing off you. I think he's starting to enjoy that a little bit."

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Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com