Though former WSU quarterback Jeff Tuel accomplished the goal of playing in the National Football League, there’s another goal he plans to cross off his list.

Tuel is currently enrolled at WSU this semester to finish his degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in business.

“It’s just something I promised my mom I would do and I want to do since football doesn’t last forever and I just have a couple classes to finish up during this offseason and while I have time off ,” Tuel said. “I just figured I could knock it out and get it done.”

After leading the Cougars to a victory in the Apple Cup his senior year in 2012, he pursued the opportunity to play quarterback in the NFL. Tuel went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, but signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.

“I was excited, fired up,” Tuel said. “It was a dream come true, literally, and I wanted to take advantage of it the best I could.”

Tuel took advantage of the plethoraof playing time he received in the 2013 preseason. The 6-foot-3, 221 pound quarterback completed 31 of 43 passes for 299 yards and threw two touchdown passes with zero interceptions in the preseason.

“The size of the defensive line and the offensive line are just at another level,” Tuel said. “The speed and everything inside the pocket is so much faster and those guys are just so much more athletic (than players in college).”

Tuel was named the starting quarterback for the first game of the 2013 football season when starter EJ Manuel suffered an injury to his left knee in the preseason.

However, Manuel was cleared to play by doctors and instead started the Bills in their season opener against New England.

Tuel would get his opportunity to play for the Bills in the regular season on Oct. 3, 2013 when the team took on the Cleveland Browns in the Thursday night primetime game. Tuel struggled in his season debut by completing 8 of 20 passes for 80 yards and two interceptions.

“I would’ve liked to play a little better and anytime you take the field there’s always things you feel that could’ve done better,” Tuel said.

The former Cougar quarterback got another chance to play during the 2013 season which he threw for 229 yards one touchdown, and two interceptions in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 3, 2013.

Tuel is currently with the Bills organization and besides working hard in the classroom, he’s been working out constantly in order to get another chance at winning back the starting quarterback job for the Bills.

“(I) just need to learn more about the game, just even more mentally than physically and just learn the protections and concepts and defenses and just learn about what defenses are doing in the NFL, and just continue to study the game,” he said.

Tuel will complete his degree this semester and then return to the Bills with the fulfillment of the promise that he made to his mother.

 “You come to college, on scholarship, you have your school paid for and to not have anything to show for is just crazy,” he said.

Though he is currently a quarterback in the National Football League, Tuel said he doesn’t know what he plans to do once he hangs up his cleats for good, but hopes some doors will open and he’ll be able to find something he can enjoy doing for the rest of his life.