By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LARAMIE, WYO โ Andrew Peasleyโs six-year college football journey is set to come to a close.
The former La Grande High football star is entering his senior season as quarterback of the Wyoming Cowboys. Peasley and The Pokes are coming off a mediocre 2022 campaign, which ended with a 7-6 record and loss to Ohio in the Arizona Bowl.
2022 was Peasleyโs first season in Laramie. He initially signed for and played at Utah State before transferring.
He says his journey from La Grande, to Logan, Utah and finally to Laramie has been a long one.
โIโve learned a lot. I was a small-town kid and didnโt know much about college football in general. I liked watching it, but just kind of going through the process has been good for my growing and maturity,โ said Peasley. โIโd say the big thing for me is the people Iโve met and been around and Iโve had a privilege to be under a lot of coaches and be around a lot of players. So, I think just being a kid from La Grande, being able to get out and be around different cultures and experience different things has been really good for me.โ
Peasley says his long college journey has helped him become more confident and more of a leader on and off the field.
Heโs also now a family man. He and his wife Maia just had their first child, a boy named Navy, in July.
โItโs honestly been the best thing in my life so far, โsaid Peasley on being a father. โItโs been a good balance, being a family man and being able to play football. I think itโs the best of both worlds.โ
Peasley says even with a new child, heโs fully focused on Wyomingโs first game, a home opener to host Texas Tech on Saturday, September 2.
The Cowboys season is shaping up to be tough, with road games against powerhouse Texas and Mountain West Conference rivals Boise State, Air Force and Nevada.
Before the season kicks off, Peasley says he has a message for everyone back home in La Grande.
โI just want to thank everyone back home. Every time I go back to La Grande someone comes up and says theyโre rooting for me and Iโm very thankful for that. Also, we play in Boise this year and thatโs a pretty close drive. So, if anyone wants to come out and support, thatโd be sweet.โ