Can North Texas’ LaDarius Hamilton be Cowboys next UDFA find?

2020 UDFA LaDarius Hamilton was a star at UNT. Can he make the leap and become a productive edge rusher for the Cowboys?

For 2020 UDFA LaDarius Hamilton, joining the Dallas Cowboys was a dream come true. A proud product of Corrigan, Texas, Hamilton is accustomed to grinding out opportunities, and represents yet another potentially intriguing option for a loaded Dallas pass rush.

Coming in at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, the North Texas alum seemingly has the requisite size and length to play DE in new DC Mike Nolan’s scheme. His performance in school seems to indicate he has a chance to be another in a long line of Dallas UDFA success stories.

Similar to 2020 fifth round DE Bradlee Anae, what Hamilton lacks in athleticism he makes for in sheer production and and technique that shines through on the field. He finished sixth in school history in both sacks (17) and tackles for loss (28.5) over his four years at North Texas.

Hamilton’s 2019 senior season was especially productive, in which he recorded 39 total tackles (10.5 for loss, 8.5 sacks), and one forced fumble. Nicknamed Hambone, he was a three-star recruit coming out of high school who emerged as a truly impressive edge rushing prospect. Said Hamilton to his local KTRE news station after he became a Cowboy:

“I had to work hard at Corrigan. Going into North Texas I wasn’t the best player heading into there. I had to put in work to be the player I am today. It has to be the same thing when I step on the Cowboys practice field. I am ready to prove I belong.”

He now has the chance to add more polish to his game working under defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, for the team he grew up rooting for. Hamilton seemed especially receptive at the prospect of playing in Dallas while speaking at the combine. He faces a long journey to make the roster, considering how the Cowboys have loaded up on DEs in search of an answer opposite DeMarucs Lawrence.

Hamilton will have to wait for and earn his opportunity, but Dallas does have both an immediate and long-term need for another edge rusher. He currently stands to be competing for a roster spot amongst former draft picks like Joe Jackson and Jalen Jelks, but it’s possible Hamilton one day becomes a quality contributor.

At UNT, he was known for his character, a three-year member of the team’s leadership council. Hamilton’s play on and off the field earned the admiration of his coaches and teammates, and eventually earned him one of the most unique and special honors in college football history.

For a single game in 2018, Hamilton wore No. 75 for the Mean Green. It the first time anyone since Joe Greene himself wore that number on the football field for UNT, truly signaling how much Hamilton meant to his school.

If Hamilton can channel his own version of Mean Joe for the Cowboys, he should have no trouble fulfilling a role for his favorite team.

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. With 75 days remaining until the NFL’s first game, up next is rookie defensive tackle Neville Gallimore.

| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin | CeeDee Lamb |
| Cole Hikutini | Dalton Schultz | Noah Brown | Sean McKeon |
| Ventell Bryant | Jon’vea Johnson | Blake Bell | Justin Hamilton |
| Cody Wichmann | Tyron Smith |

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