Tag: prospect profile

Can Utah’s Mika Tafua latch on with the Cowboys as UDFA edge?

Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) takes a look at the productive defensive lineman from Utah. Does he have what it takes to make it on the Cowboys?

As we wind down the list of the 2022 undrafted free agent class we turn our attention to Mika Tafua. Tafua was a four-year starter at Utah, and was deployed in a variety of ways for the Utes defense. He spent time as an edge rusher, a 3-technique, a true linebacker, and a stand-up edge rusher.

An older prospect, Tafua is entering the NFL at 25 years old, and turns 26 in his first year after serving his two-year mission. In his final year at Utah, Tafua put together his best year as a player, leading the PAC-12 in both pressures and sacks. He was awarded the Pac-12 Morris Trophy. which is the award for the conference’s top defensive lineman as voted by the offensive lineman. So, despite his age does he have what it takes to make it with the Cowboys? Let’s dive into the film to find out.

Does UDFA Malik Davis have what it takes to weave his way into Cowboys RB room?

The Cowboys depth chart at running back is iron-clad at the top. What happens behind them is up to the offseason. Can Davis break through? Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) dives into the tape.

Former Gators running back Malik Davis was quite accomplished coming out of high school, where he ran for a county-best 2,469 yards and 33 touchdowns during his senior season and led his high school to a state championship game appearance. He then committed to the University of Florida but was unable to ever find consistent playing time.

His first two seasons at Florida were hindered by injuries, playing in 7 games in his freshman year before suffering a season-ending injury, and playing in just three his sophomore year before suffering yet another. He returned in 2020 as a redshirt sophomore and appeared in 12 games, followed by 12 more the following year earning his first two starts. In his last year at Florida he earned the starting role but still was used in a heavy rotation. As an undrafted free agent, the odds are stacked against him in making the Cowboys final roster, but does Davis have what it takes to become a find instead of a camp body?

Wake Forest WR Jaqaurii Roberson looks to impress Cowboys enough to keep him

Did the Cowboys uncover a hidden UDFA gem at wide receiver? The Wake Forest product will try and latch on but first Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) take a look a the productive Demon Deacon.

As we continue through the Dallas Cowboys’ undrafted free agents, we come on the third of four receiver signings the Cowboys made. This one being from Wake Forrest in the ACC. Jaquarii Roberson. Roberson earned quite a few accolades in his time at Wake Forrest including numerous pre-season 1st team All-ACC selections, a couple of award watch lists, and back-to-back years as finishing as a second-team All-ACC.

He was quite the productive receiver for the Demon Deacons, as his three touchdowns in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl mark the most in Demon Deacon history. Roberson holds the program record for yards per game in a single season, averaging 102.9 yards per game in 2020, and he tied for the school record with four consecutive 100-plus yard receiving games. He has the production to warrant a signing by the Cowboys, but does the film tell us he might make the roster? Let’s take a look and find out.

Released from Cowboys, here’s what TCU safety La’Kendrick Van Zandt had to offer

He’s played multiple coverage roles, but couldn’t find one with the Cowboys in 2022. Tyler Browning (@DIabeitcTyler) dives into the tape of the TCU defender.

The Dallas Cowboys appear to have done their homework on the safety position in the 2022 undrafted free agent class. We already have previewed one safety signee in Juanyeh Thomas and they originally signed another one. This one is more local to home, as they signed TCU safety La’Kendrick Van Zandt. Van Zandt is an experienced player and a versatile one, but apparently didn’t impress the coaching staff enough as he was released on Friday.

He played the Star role quite often for the Horned Frogs, in addition to being a nickel corner and a sub-package linebacker. However he did not fit the prototypical Dan Quinn mold of defender and that could have been the reason he was unable to latch on.

Could Texas A&M WR-turned-LB Aaron Hansford outperform expectations with Cowboys?

The Aggie WR converted to linebacker after injuries were derailing his trajectory. Where will his talents take him as a professional? Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler ) takes a look at his prospects.

Texas A&M linebacker Aaron Hansford was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and played in the Under-Armour All-American game. He was highly regarded entering the Aggie program, however injuries slowed his development. He suffered a season-ending injury in his freshman year, resulting in a medical redshirt. In 2018 he missed the entire year due to injury as well. In 2019 he made the move from wide receiver to linebacker and has played in every game since.

Sixth-round pick Devin Harper had a phenomenal showing at the NFL combine, posting a 9.51 RAS score, which is likely one of the reasons he got drafted over Hansford. However, based on the film alone, did the Cowboys get better value in their undrafted free agent Hansford? Let’s dive into the film and find out.

Can Indiana’s Ty Fryfogle overcome the Cowboys numbers at WR?

The Cowboys are top-heavy at WR, but there are bodies. Does Fryfogle have what it takes to emerge? Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) takes a dive into the tape of the Indiana receiver.

The Dallas Cowboys have signed at least one undrafted free agent at the wide receiver for the last several years, including four of them last offseason. This year they matched their high and signed another four, including Indiana’s Ty Fryfogle.

Fryfogle was a two-sport athlete coming out of high school, lettering in both football and basketball. He enrolled in Indiana in 2017 and saw the field almost immediately playing in 18 games his freshman year.  His career took off in 2020 as he became the first Indiana receiver to win All-American honors since 2007.  He took home Big-10 receiver of the year honors as well as being one of the 11 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award. His 2021 season didn’t match the rising expectations though, so what kind of player did Dallas give a chance?

BYU’s James Empey trying to latch on with Cowboys after injury derailment

The Cowboys double-dipped in UDFA for centers. Will Empey prove to be more of a camp body or contender to the throne? Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) dives into the film of BYU product.

The Dallas Cowboys continued their work on finding a long-term replacement at center as they added two in undrafted free agency. We already looked at Alec Lindstrom out of Boston Collège and they also added James Empey out of BYU. There isn’t much background on Empey available, but he was a three-year starter in high school and a team captain. He played both ways in high school and he played both tackle and guard.

He offers plenty of playing experience as he started every game his freshman and sophomore year at BYU, before battling an ankle injury that would plague him in his final two years. So does he have what it takes to make it on the Cowboys roster? Let’s dive into the tape and find out.

The next Big Kat? UCF’s Bryant now with Cowboys working under Lett, Durde, Quinn

The name is familiar, but is the game worthy of a spot on the roster? Tyler Browning (@DiabeitcTyler) dives into the tape of the Auburn Tiger turned UCF Golden Knight.

A continued walk through the Dallas Cowboys’ undrafted free agent class brings an intriguing name, but is there intriguing play to go along with it? UCF edge rusher Big Cat Bryant started off his career at Auburn, after earning 4-star honors coming out of high school. He was selected to compete in the Under Armour High School All-American game and his career at Auburn was highlighted by earning 2nd-team All-SEC honors and being selected as a team captain in 2020.

His then head coach, Gus Malzahn, left Auburn to become the head coach at UCF, and Bryant followed him as a graduate transfer. Bryant started in all 13 games for the Golden Knights, and earned first-team All-AAC honors from the league’s coaches and Phil Steele. He led the team with six sacks and 13 tackles for loss. The transfer to UCF seemed to work in Bryant’s favor, although he didn’t hear his name called over draft weekend.

Was that the other 31 NFL teams’ mistake? A look into the film to see what the Cowboys have invested in.

 

Does Alec Lindstrom have the ability to go from UDFA to Cowboys’ starting center?

If the Cowboys are unsettled at center, that gives every participant a chance to show his worth. Can Boston College’s man make an impact? Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) dives into the tape of a prospect with league bloodlines.

The center position has long been a question mark for the Dallas Cowboys, ever since the retirement of Travis Fredrick. There was a center prospect in this year’s draft many pegged as the best center prospect in quite some time and they also pegged the Cowboys as an ideal landing spot for him. He was available when the Cowboys were on the clock, instead, they opted for a different Tyler. Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith was the call, not Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum.

The Cowboys decided to pass on the center position not only in the first round but in every round of the draft. It wasn’t until undrafted free agency when they decided to add Boston College center Alec Lindstrom. Lindstrom has NFL bloodlines as his father played three seasons in the league, and his brother Chris played at Boston College and was a first-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons. However bloodlines do not guarantee success. Does he have what it takes to make it on the Cowboys roster?

Can Ole Miss’ Dontario Drummond bully his way onto Cowboys regular season roster?

The Running Rebels wideout slipped through the draft. Did Dallas find a camp body or a contender to make an impact down the line? Tyler Browning (@DIabeticTyler) dives into the tape.

The Dallas Cowboys are notorious for adding multiple wide receivers in the undrafted free agency race following three days of drafting. This year they added four, including Ole Miss standout Dontario Drummond. Drummond started off his career at the community college that was brought to fame by the Netflix TV series, Last Chance U, East Mississippi Community College, helping lead his team to a national title in the 2017. He became the all-time East Mississippi CC leader in receptions as well as receiving yards.

Following his time at East Mississippi CC he was labeled as a 3-star recruit, and chose Ole Miss over the likes of Arkansas and Kansas, among others. The receiver class in this past draft was fairly deep so it was possible to see a number of draftable players slip through the seventh round.