Where are they now? Caden Peevey

Since leaving Shamrock High School graduating in 2023, multi-sport athlete Caden Peevey has found a home at Oklahoma Baptist University doing the best to make his best to put his hometown on the map.

The former Irish track star along with being better known as an All-State football player and District Defensive MVP, recently completed his first full year making an impact in the Bison backfield as a redshirt freshman.

Despite a broken thumb midway through the 2024 season at OBU, Peevey was able see action in nine games becoming a starter late in the year, rushing for 267 yards on 52 carries averaging 5.1 yards a touch. He also showed his versatility out of the backfield snagging eight catches for 69 yards.

“It’s been a lot different,” Peevey said. “There is a lot to get used to at the college level. The IQ of the game is completely different. Everyone knows the game. It took me a while to find my groove, but I felt I really started to pick it up late in the year.”

Under running backs coach Zach Blevins and a competitive running backs room, Peevey has become a completely different player.

“I love the coaching staff and I have a great relationship with coach (Zach) Blevins,” Peevey said. “I feel I’ve really improved in knowing the game, my vision and just becoming a downhill running. It was easy in high school to get to the outside and run past a defender, but in college everyone is as fast or faster than you. I had to learn to read my blocks better and go more downhill.”

What’s interesting about Peevey is he is one of those rare college athletes that plays multiple sports. When he’s not playing football in the fall, he’s competing for the Bison track team.

Peevey made an immediate impact last year getting second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.44 in the Great American Conference and was a part of the mile relay team that won the conference championship.

“I take pride in playing two sports,” said Peevey, who is an exercise science major. “I love both sports and it’s something I’ve been blessed to do. The coaches have been great about working with me and working with my schedule to make it happen.”

Peevey’s goal going forward is to help his teams win games on the field or medals on the track while his biggest goal is just making his hometown of Shamrock proud at the same time.

“I love it at OBU,” Peevey said. “Everyone is great here and I’ve made some great friends. But Shamrock is always going to be my home, and I love that community. The support I get from Shamrock means more to me than anyone knows. I play for them, and I want to bring recognition to a town that doesn’t always get the most.”