Wyoming Cowboys in the NFL: Preseason Week 1

LARAMIE -- Wyoming currently has 17 alums on active NFL rosters after former linebacker Easton Gibbs was released Sunday by the Steelers.

Josh Allen is entering Year 7 under center in Buffalo. Mike Purcell, who was recently inked by New England, is taking part in his 12th training camp. Tashaun Gipson is eyeing a six-game suspension to begin the season after testing positive for violating the league's performance enhancing substances policy. When he returns to the field, he will be a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a franchise he spent three years with between 2016-18.

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Preseason games are under way and the Pokes in the pros have been busy. Check out the stats these guys have racked up so far:

Tyler Hall - CB - Philadelphia Eagles

After tallying 20 tackles out of the Raiders secondary last fall, Tyler Hall inked with Philadelphia this offseason. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound cornerback, who played at Wyoming from 2016-19, registered a single tackle Friday in the Eagles 16-13 road win in rainy Baltimore.

Andrew Peasley - QB - New York Jets

The 6-foot-2, 218-pound signal caller who led the Cowboys to a nine-win season in 2023 didn't hear his name called in last spring's NFL Draft. The Jets offered him an opportunity. During his debut on Saturday, Andrew Peasley connected on 8-of-11 pass attempts for 73 yards in a 20-17 victory over visiting Washington. The Oregon product lofted a perfectly placed toss into the corner of the end zone in the second quarter that was hauled in by Jason Brownlee for a 12-yard touchdown.

Xazavian Valladay - RB - New York Jets

Peasley's teammate, Xazavian Valladay, rushed for just 11 yards on eight carries in the victory over the Commanders. The 6-foot, 198-pound running back spent last season on the Jets practice squad after spending his final collegiate campaign at Arizona State. Valladay and Peasley never played together in Laramie, missing one another by a single year.

Solomon Byrd - DE - Houston Texans

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound edge rusher was selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Though he capped his collegiate career at USC, Solomon Byrd did spend four seasons in Laramie, where he registered 87 tackles and 10 sacks for the Pokes. Byrd didn't tally a tackle Friday in the Texans 20-12 victory in Pittsburgh. The California product also failed to get on the stat sheet in a preseason opening 21-17 loss to the Bears.

Ayir Asante - WR - New York Giants

The New Jersey native saw the field in the Giants preseason opener last Thursday night but didn't have a pass thrown in his direction. The 6-foot, 178-pound wide receiver spent just one season in Laramie after transferring from Holy Cross. He caught 21 passes for the Cowboys, six of which culminated in a touchdown.

Carl Granderson - DE - New Orleans Saints

The Sacramento, Calif., product tallied two tackles Saturday, including half-a-sack, in a 16-14 road victory over the Cardinals. Carl Granderson, who is entering his sixth season in New Orleans, played in Laramie from 2015-18, wrapping up his UW career with 17.5 quarterback sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss. The 6-foot-5, 261-pound edge rusher has 181 career NFL tackles to go along with 23 sacks.

Mike Purcell - DT - New England Patriots

Mike Purcell said goodbye to his hometown Broncos after a five-year stint in the Mile High City. The 6-foot-3, 328-pound defensive tackle signed with the Patriots this summer. Purcell played at Wyoming from 2009-12. He didn't register a stat in New England's 17-3 win over the Panthers in the preseason opener.

Marcus Epps - S - Las Vegas Raiders

This hard-hitting safety is entering his sixth NFL season, his second in Las Vegas. Marcus Epps didn't land on the state sheet Saturday in the Raiders 24-23 loss in Minnesota. He also didn't play much. That's the life of a starter in preseason. Epps, who played for the Cowboys from 2015-18, has 275 career tackles and three picks.

Tashaun Gipson - S - Jacksonville Jaguars

The longest-tenured former Cowboy in the NFL, was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, returning to a place he spent three seasons at between 2016-18. He will miss the first six games of the season after testing positive for violating the league's performance enhancing substances policy. Gipson spent the previous two seasons in San Francisco.

Chad Muma - LB - Jacksonville Jaguars

Chad Muma capped his preseason opener with three solo tackles Saturday in the Jaguars 26-13 victory over visiting Kansas City. The 6-foot-3, 239-pound linebacker is entering his third NFL season after playing for the Cowboys from 2018-21. The Colorado native has 62 total tackles in the league to go along with 1.5 sacks.

Andrew Wingard - S - Jacksonville Jaguars

This former Wyoming safety will miss the entire preseason and likely the first few regular-season games after suffering a knee injury in training camp. Andrew Wingard, who is entering his sixth season in Jacksonville, has 247 tackles under his belt to go along with five interceptions.

Frank Crum - RT - Denver Broncos

The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Laramie native saw his first NFL action Sunday in a 34-30 win at Indianapolis. Frank Crum lined up at right tackle and helped lead the Broncos on a pair of second-half touchdown drives. Denver's offensive line didn't give up a single sack and opened holes to the tune of 131 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Treyton Welch - TE - Cleveland Browns

Treyton Welch saw action in the Browns first preseason game of 2024, a 23-10 home loss to the Packers. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end played at Wyoming from 2019-2023, hauling in 77 catches for 874 yards and nine touchdowns. Welch, a Buffalo, Minn., native, was signed by Cleveland after going undrafted last spring.

Logan Wilson - LB - Cincinnati Bengals

The Governor is entering Year 5 in Cincinnati. Logan Wilson has tallied 421 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 10 interceptions during his Wyoming career that spanned from 2016-19. Since entering the NFL, the Casper product has been one of the top tacklers in the league, registering 391 stops from the linebacker spot. He's also still finding the football, snagging 11 interceptions and forcing five fumbles in his brief pro career.

Jacob Hollister - TE - Carolina Panthers

This former Wyoming tight end refuses to go away. Jacob Hollister has surfaced in Carolina after spending a couple of seasons on various practice squads. Hollister, who played in Laramie from 2014-16, snagged two passes for 13 yards Thursday in a 17-3 loss at New England. Hollister has 83 career catches for 707 yards and seven touchdowns.

Josh Allen - QB - Buffalo Bills

In a brief outing Saturday in Orchard Park, Josh Allen completed 2-of-3 passes for 22 yards in a 33-6 loss to the Bears. The 6-foot-5, 237-pound gunslinger has thrown for 22,703 yards and 167 passing touchdowns in his first six seasons under center in Buffalo. He's added 53 scores on the ground.

Azizi Hearn - CB - New England Patriots

After being picked up by the Raiders as a free agent in 2023, Azizi Hearn signed with the Patriots practice squad. He is still on the roster today, though did not figure in the 17-3 victory over Carolina. Hearn, who played for the Pokes from 2019-21 after transferring from Arizona, played his last collegiate season at UCLA. During his tenure in Laramie, Hearn had 80 tackles and 13 pass breakups.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players