On Tuesday, March 19, 26 NFL scouts descended on Laramie to scope out the Cowboys’ top performers this season and gauge their NFL potential. Ayir Asante, Cole Godbout, Jakorey Hawkins, Andrew Peasley, Treyton Welch, Frank Crum, Easton Gibbs and several others all tested in an array of different athletics drills.
For Crum and Gibbs, this was a second opportunity to flash their skills in front of top scouts after returning from the NFL combine in Indianapolis earlier this month. For everyone else, however, it was a chance to move their draft stock up and show why they deserve a shot at the next level.
“People respect our program, and people respect the level that we play,” said head coach Jay Sawvel, referring to the turnout from scouts. Despite not boasting the top echelon of potential NFL draftees, Wyoming has developed skilled players in the past and continued its tradition of producing solid talent this year.
QB Andrew Peasley turned in a self-proclaimed average season last year and was looking to make one last impression.
“This day is my one shot,” said Peasley. “I was excited to get the opportunity to competitively play this game one more time.”
He showed off his arm strength and passing to the onlookers, and felt that he performed well. “I feel good. I think my testing went really well,” he said.
Meanwhile, linebacker Easton Gibbs delivered what he felt was a much better showing than his performance in the NFL combine.
When asked what he improved in, Gibbs said, “Just about everything. I was looking forward to today and erasing what happened in Indianapolis.”
With the NFL in his sights and Laramie behind him, Gibbs reminisced about his last event as a Poke. “It’s fun seeing everybody out here one last time in the brown and gold,” he said.
Wide receiver Ayir Asante, defensive tackle Cole Godbout, tight-end Treyton Welch and cornerback Jakorey Hawkins, also NFL hopefuls, were able to display their high level of athleticism in the drills and tests.
“I feel like I put out good numbers and still [was able] to stick to my technique,” said Asante. After transferring for his final season, Asante had high praise for the Cowboys and his team. “Coming to Wyoming is probably one of the best decisions I’ve made in my football career,” he said.
Godbout, coming off an injury from last season, talked about coming back from being down.
“It’s tough, but you gotta keep pushing and keep grinding,” he said. “If you really want it, you should get it.” He finished with a message to the NFL, “Once I put the pads on, they’re gonna see what I can offer,” he said.
Treyton Welch exhibited very compelling numbers to the scouts, and did all he could to make a lasting impression. “I don’t want to be a guy that leaves anything on the field,” he said. “I just want to give it my all and give glory to God through it.”
Hawkins was pleased with how far he has come in his career and the improvement that he has shown.
“It was important to hit my goals and work hard,” he said. “It’s good to see the results come out that I’ve worked for my whole career.” At his last event in Laramie, he had a lot of good things to say about the town and support in his time here.
“These last few years I’ve been very grateful and blessed to play for this community,” he said. “It’s been joyful and I appreciate everyone here.”
Laramie native Frank Crum was the highlight of the day, and a big reason for the scouts to make the trip to Wyoming, but Crum was happy to redirect that light to his teammates.
“If they’re gonna look at one guy, they’re gonna look at everybody,” he said. “It’s important for all of them and it’s not about me at the end of the day.”
Growing up so close to Cowboy football, Crum remembers NFL scouts being in Laramie for other Wyoming alums.
“I had to sneak in here,” Crum sheepishly admitted when talking about when Josh Allen ran drills for scouts a few short years ago. “We played hooky [from school] that day,” he said.
Crum didn’t imagine he could have been here those few years ago.
“My freshman year, I didn’t know I had it in me,” he said. “I wasn’t physically mature at the time and was still figuring out my size. To finally be here and see everything come to fruition has been awesome.”
Crum remembered all the Cowboys who came before him who are now in the NFL.
“Those guys paved the way,” he said. He talked about names like Josh Allen, Carl Granderson, Chad Muma and Logan Wilson. “It shows teams [about] being from Wyoming. There aren’t a lot of us but don’t overlook us. That’s for sure,” he said.
Only time will tell where each Poke will end up, but each player has no doubt that they will represent Wyoming and the program well wherever they land.
