Dak Prescott comments on Cowboys' addition of Deuce Vaughn
They say a running back can be a quarterback’s best friend, and Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback Dak Prescott seemed to be pleased with the team’s latest addition to the backfield.
The Cowboys selected former Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn with the No. 212 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, addressing a position that has some question marks heading into the season. And Prescott seems particularly confident that Vaughn can not only help Dallas’ offense, but do so sooner than later.
“I’m excited,” Prescott said on 96.7 The Ticket. “That was (a pick) you get excited about when you see that story, going into it, knowing who he was, knowing his dad, thinking about how cool that would be if you could make that happen. … I think he’s gonna be a very talented player that can help us immediately.”
Vaughn’s father Chris Vaughn is an NFL Scout for the Dallas Cowboys, but what he brings to the table for Dallas goes beyond his connection to the organization.
Vaughn measured in at 5-foot-5 at this year’s NFL Combine, making him the shortest player measured in combine history. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed, quickness, and versatility. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for the Wildcats, also racking up 116 career receptions for 1,280 yards in his three seasons in Manhattan.
He was a scoring machine in college with 43 career touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the hardest players to tackle across all of college football. And he could be touching down in the Lone Star State at the perfect time for the Cowboys.
Dallas parted ways with running back Ezekiel Elliott this offseason on March 15 after seven seasons and 8,262 rushing yards with the franchise. Elliot led the team in rushing yards in every single season he was with Dallas until last season, when running back Tony Pollard took on the role as the team’s primary running back.
Pollard had an excellent season with the Cowboys in 2022, rushing for 1,007 yards and receiving for 371 yards. But his season came to an abrupt and gruesome end in Dallas’ divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers when he suffered a fracture to his left fibula and a high ankle sprain.
The Cowboys placed their franchise tag on Pollard, and the rusher is expected to participate in training camp coming off of his injury. But whether he’s ready for the season or not, Vaughn could be the versatile threat out of the backfield that Dallas needs heading into the upcoming season.