Wrapping up their 2020 draft class, the Cowboys selected James Madison QB Ben DiNucci in Round 7, No. 231 overall. Seemingly plucked from obscurity, DiNucci caps off a truly stunning first draft for Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys, and represents one last lotto ticket the team can hold onto.
A redshirt FCS senior, DiNucci transferred to James Madison from Pittsburgh in 2018. In two seasons, DiNucci threw for 5,716 yards and 45 touchdowns, finishing fourth all-time at JMU in each category. In 2019, he scored 36 total touchdowns (29 passing, seven rushing) and accounted for over 4,000 total yards of offense.
The @dallascowboys are getting a great one in Ben DiNucci.#NFLDukes #CowboysDraft pic.twitter.com/GNU8QhYnd7
— JMU Football (@JMUFootball) April 25, 2020
Ben DiNucci pic.twitter.com/BJjvnHYeI6
— Mamba2 (@33643BB) April 25, 2020
DiNucci led JMU to the FCS Championship Game last year, where they fell 28-20 to Division I powerhouse North Dakota State. In the game, he completed 22 of 33 passes for 204 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. But DiNucci’s performance and unlikely journey definitely caught the attention of NFL scouts, and especially intrigued Dallas.
QB Ben DiNucci was receiving phone calls from Browns and Bears with undrafted free agent contracts. Cowboys decided not to leave it up to chance, told him they'd draft him in seventh round if available. "When pick No. 231 came up, I was glued to the TV. I was glued to my phone."
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 25, 2020
#Cowboys hit the #FCS ranks for @JMUFootball QB Ben DiNucci:
-Shows a good ability to create when the initial read isn’t
there.
– Always keeps his eyes downfield when buying time.
– Underrated elusiveness as a runner.— Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) April 25, 2020
With only Cooper Rush and Clayton Thorson as QB depth behind Dak Prescott, DiNucci has chance to latch on and develop as an NFL prospect under the watchful eye of McCarthy and his staff.
After seemingly crushing each pick before, having DiNucci hit would be the feather in the cap of a masterful 2020 NFL draft the Cowboys. With spirits high, we’ll let this questionable old tweet from DiNucci slide, and let him carve his own path in Dallas.
This was tweeted during the 2014 Wk 3 game vs the St. Louis Rams, where Dallas fell behind 21-0. After a Murray fumble, Romo was picked by Janoris Jenkins.
It was a Pick Six.
Of course, Romo brought Dallas back, including a 68-yd pass to Dez Bryant, Cowboys won 34-31. https://t.co/qdWGUplI8H
— KD Drummond (@KDDrummondNFL) April 25, 2020