Nebraska Transfer Jason Maciejczak Finds Home and Opportunity at Wyoming

Jason Maciejczak. Via X, formerly known as Twitter.

LARAMIE, Wyo. - When Jason Maciejczak arrived in Laramie during the offseason, he didn’t come chasing NIL hype or headlines. The offensive lineman, who transferred from the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was seeking an opportunity.

“I’m not really chasing a dollar amount,” Maciejczak told PokesNews.com before coming to campus earlier this year. “I’m chasing an opportunity, and that’s what they’re giving me.”

Wyoming felt like the right fit almost immediately.

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A Wyoming Connection

Long before committing to the Cowboys, Maciejczak already had a connection to the state.

His father, Dan Maciejczak, not only built a decorated playing career as an offensive lineman at Chadron State as an All-America, Academic All-America honors, and later induction into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame (A HoFer!)- but also coached in Wyoming.

Dan served as head coach of the Wyoming Calvary arena football team, where he became one of the most successful coaches in franchise history during his tenure from 2007-2012. Interestingly, Shannon Moore, Wyoming's tight ends coach and co-special teams coordinator, was the head coach of the Calvary before Dan took over. The Calvary played at the Ford Wyoming Center, also known as the Casper Events Center.

Jason remembers those days, even if from a distance.

“My mom raised my brother and me in Rapid City, and my dad would travel the months of the arena season… but we went to the games all the time,” Jason said.

Those trips left an impression.

“I remember… the guys that I was around and the atmosphere,” he said. “Anyone that’s been around arena football, it’s so much fun to watch and be around, and I love that.”

Even at a young age, Wyoming made its mark.

“I remember I liked Wyoming… I really remember the guys that I was around and the atmosphere.”

Built by Family

Football has always been part of Maciejczak’s identity.

His father coached him throughout his life all the way from youth football to high school.

“My dad’s been my coach my whole life,” Maciejczak said. “He was my head coach in high school for three years… It’s been definitely a journey with him and he’s done so much for me in my career.”

At T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, SD, Maciejczak became one of South Dakota’s top players. His team achieved a perfect 12-0 season and a state championship, with the offense averaging 48 points per game and scoring at least 35 in every contest.

Riggs head coach Steve Steele labeled him the “best lineman” in the state.

Maciejczak also made his mark defensively, logging 26 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks as a senior, while excelling in track and field with multiple runner-up finishes at the state meet in both shot put and discus.

A three-star prospect by 247Sports, he initially committed to North Dakota before ultimately signing with Nebraska.

Time at Nebraska

Originally recruited as a defensive lineman, he switched to the offensive line.

“I grew up as an offensive lineman,” he said. “But when I got recruited, they told me to come play D-line… In the middle of the season… they had O-line… some bad injuries happened… and they knew I could play O-line. So they said, come over and try it.”

The transition stuck.

“I think they realized that I actually was a decent O lineman too… It’s in my blood.”

Over three seasons, Maciejczak appeared in 21 games, including 12 in 2025 and nine in 2024. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors twice, was named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, and made the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll five times.

But beyond the accolades, it was the daily work that defined his experience.

“The games are super fun… but the times you really remember are… just grinding, sweating, puking sometimes in winter workouts,” he said. “That was the greatest memory for me.”

He also credits his development to former offensive line coach Donovan Raiola.

“My game and how I play is so accelerated because of him… I just can’t thank him enough.”

Why Wyoming Felt Like Home

Leaving Nebraska wasn’t easy.

“I hated leaving the relationships I made in Nebraska,” Maciejczak said. “It wasn’t a fun process… but it was what was best for me.”

What followed was a search for the right opportunity - not just the biggest stage.

Wyoming quickly stood out.

“The Nebraska fans are crazy… and I can kind of see that in Wyoming,” he said. “It’s a smaller stadium… but the passion isn’t smaller.”

That familiarity of his upbringing played a major role.

“I’m from Pierre, South Dakota… it’s a very similar area,” he said. “I love the area, I love the atmosphere.”

His visit to Laramie sealed it.

“I made the decision, actually, the first day of the visit,” he said. “My parents and I sat in the hotel and talked… like, this place is awesome.”

Relationships with the coaching staff, particularly offensive line coach Joe Tripodi, helped finalize that decision.

“We sat around for two days and talked football and just talked life,” Maciejczak said. “I love the way they play. I love the standard.”

A Player Defined by Character

Maciejczak’s character stands out just as much as his play.

During his time at Nebraska, he made a habit of acknowledging first responders before games, often shaking hands with law enforcement, firefighters, and security personnel.

“I think first responders are just great for communities,” he said. “They take their time out of their Saturdays… and they’re always there in case of an emergency. I just love that.”

It’s a small act that speaks volumes about Jason's character, especially when he didn't expect anyone to see his kind gestures.

Opportunity Over Everything

Now at Wyoming, Maciejczak is focused on earning his role.

“Coming in, I’m never promised a position,” he said. “Whatever position I earn is what I’m going to play.”

Whether that’s guard, center, or wherever the Cowboys need him, his mindset remains the same.

“I want to be the best that I can be,” he said. “If you can do one little thing every day to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses, you’re going to get to your goals.”

What did Sawvel say?

Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel sees Jason Maciejczak as a perfect example of a player prioritizing opportunity.

At a press conference in January, Sawvel pointed out the growing contrast in today’s transfer portal landscape, noting, “Sometimes you can have guys that leave here that go other places because they want to get paid more, but then they'll end up playing less, and then you have guys that leave other places to come here to play more. Right?

That’s kind of Jason's situation.” Sawvel said that Maciejczak made the move with a clear goal in mind -“I want to go play” - and believes Wyoming is the right place for that to happen.

The Cowboys’ head coach has already been impressed with what he’s seen, adding, “Watching him work out this week… I’m really happy with where he's at. He's almost 320 pounds. He's strong, he moves well.”

Last week, Sawvel reiterated that fit and opportunity were key factors, explaining, “Jason fit… because there's a personality fit to him… he needed opportunity.”

Sawvel also mentioned that Maciejczak is expected to take some reps at center during the spring as he continues to carve out his role on Wyoming’s offensive line...and find his opportunity.

About the Author:

Jeff Bugher is a third-generation Wyomingite living in Casper, Wyoming. He is a sportswriter and Wyoming Cowboys/Cowgirls enthusiast who is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA ) and the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). Jeff's work has been cited by Sports Illustrated, one of the world's leading sports publications.

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