Cowboys rookie fullback Hunter Luepke working to earn roster spot
Perhaps one of the most intriguing undrafted signings the Cowboys made following the draft was fullback Hunter Luepke out of North Dakota State. A fullback with a track record of chewing up yards and catching passes as well, Luepke is a good candidate to make the Dallas roster as is. However, he’s also laser-focused on the little things that could help him stand out when it comes to cutting time.
“I’m just trying to be myself out there,” Luepke said via DallasCowboys.com‘s Nick Harris. “I’m not trying to be anybody else, I’m just trying to be the best version of Hunter Luepke that I can be every day.”
“Special teams is key,” he added. “If you want to play on a team and if you want to play for a long time, you gotta embrace special teams and it’s something I’m really looking forward to [doing]. I’m trying to be as versatile as possible to help out this team. First things first, I gotta make the squad and I gotta learn the playbook.”
Rookie leaning on versatility
During his four years at North Dakota State, Luepke posted more than 400 rushing yards three times. He maxed out at 619 yards on 98 carries as a senior.
He also had nine rushing touchdowns and four additional receiving touchdowns in 2022. Not only did he average 6.3 yards per rush in his final season, but he also produced long runs of 38 yards and 47 yards.
Luepke’s versatility and his experience will give him a leg up when the coaches start counting roster spots. According to him, he’s also a quick study, which will help him pick up the Cowboys’ offense faster than most.
“At NDSU, I kind of played everything and they moved me all over,” Luepke said. “I had to learn the whole offense, I had to know what the o-line was doing, what the quarterback was thinking, what the tight ends and fullbacks were doing. It helped me learn the game of football a little bit more which I think really helped me get to where I am today.”
Cowboys sign Luepke, eight more to six-figure deals
Nine of the 13 undrafted rookies that the Cowboys signed this year have $100,000 or more in guaranteed salary.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the high sums of guaranteed money signifies how likely each of those players is to make “at least the practice squad” this year.
Former Kansas offensive tackle Earl Bostick signed a fully-guaranteed deal for $220,000, which includes a $20,000 signing bonus. His figure is the highest among the nine undrafted rookies making over $100,000. Bostick spent six years at the collegiate level and it appears the Cowboys are paying a lot for that experience.
After Bostick, Luepke and edge rusher Tyrus Wheat signed for $180,000 guaranteed. The Cowboys signed five to deals with $140,000 in base salary: Wideouts David Durden and Jalen Moreno-Cropper, offensive lineman T.J. Bass, defensive end Durrell Johnson and cornerback Myles Brooks.
Defensive end Isaiah Land was the final undrafted rookie to sign a six-figure deal. He made it to $100,000 with a $95,000 base salary and a $5,000 signing bonus.