FRISCO, Texas — Another year, another shakeup at the running back position for and by the Dallas Cowboys creates another opportunity for Deuce Vaughn to show he can consistently make some sort of impact for an offense that is now run by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and one that also features a reunion to keep an eye on as it relates to the young running back.
Conor Riley, the former offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at Kansas State — the school that helped make Vaughn a national name — is now the offensive line coach for the Cowboys.
Needless to say, Vaughn was elated when he heard the news this past spring.
"Oh man, that was big," he said of the hiring, his face illuminating as he relived the moment. "Having Coach Riles down there at Kansas State for the three years that I was there, we built a really tight relationship. He's a great man off of the field, but he is also an amazing coach on it. He came in for an interview one day and I was in the building. I got to hug him and, that next day, they ended up making the decision.
"To see him have that star on the side of his chest, it was really, really cool. And it was really big because that's a guy that believed in me whenever I was going into K. State out of high school, so it was really big."
With the assistance of and under the tutelage of Riley, Vaughn torched all comers at the collegiate level, racking up a monstrous 4,884 yards from scrimmage and 43 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per touch and 5.5 yards per carry en route to earning a list of conference and national honors.
"I think one of the things that makes him so special is he is truly a professional," said Riley of Vaughn. "The way that he prepares and the way that he studies the game helped in how quickly he was able to be impactful for us at Kansas State. And that was in 2020, which was a challenge in and of itself, and it really makes him so, so dynamic."
As mentioned, there's been another upheaval at running back in Dallas, the team having signed JaVonte Williams and Miles Sanders after waving goodbye to Rico Dowdle one year after parting ways with Tony Pollard, and weeks after their second goodbye to Ezekiel Elliott.
The club then went on to draft both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafa in April, and then there's still the presence of Hunter Luepke — a fullback with the versatility to attack as a running back.
This inherently creates another chance for Vaughn to make a name for himself, seeing as there is still uncertainty regarding who will be the top guy(s), and with Riley now in the mix to help conduct the rushing attack. It's not unreasonable to believe that if anyone can unlock Vaughn at the NFL level, it's presumably the same one who did it as recently as three seasons ago.
"I feel like for myself, I've been attacking it day by day, but also understanding that [Riley's] run scheme — the things that he and [Klayton] Adams want to do as far as running the football in this upcoming year — are not necessarily new," said Vaughn of the collaboration to come. "A lot of things are kind of the same. The nuances are just a little bit different, but the terminology and being able to hear it from somebody you've heard it from for three or four years [in college] is really, really big.
"Just having that relationship that I can go to ask him questions about anything. up front, you know how big that is for a running back and a running game. So it's really big — that familiarity."
The battle at running back is wide open heading into training camp in late July, but maybe, just maybe, Vaughn has an ace up his sleeve that others do not:
The fact he can, once again, get all Rile'd up.
The Cowboys held their final OTA practice open to the media on Tuesday ahead of the team beginning mandatory minicamp next week. Here's what stood out to the staff at DallasCowboys.com.
George Pickens' first "wow" play
After Pickens didn't see many targets in the first two media viewings of OTAs, his first "wow" play in front of the media was the play of the day on Tuesday with a grab from Dak Prescott in the scramble drill where Pickens caught the ball falling out of bounds at the front pylon and kept both feet in bounds for a touchdown. It was his second target of the day, with the first being a deep ball from Prescott that was slightly underthrown and broken up by Kaiir Elam. – Tommy Yarrish
Clark Bar
It seems the early praise for Damone Clark is well-founded as the veteran linebacker enters his fourth year in the NFL and with the Cowboys, and this time with another change at defensive coordinator. In the third and final practice of OTAs, Clark dropped back and picked off Joe Milton on a pass across the middle that was intended for Princeton Fant — displaying quick play recognition, reaction and the hands to reel in the takeaway for Matt Eberflus. - Patrik Walker
Joe Milton showcases accuracy
One of the elements that Cowboys fans and coaches alike wanted to see, was more accuracy from Joe Milton. Outside of the interception he threw to Damone Clark, he completed 7 of his 8 passes during the team period. Those completions included a couple long throws outside the numbers and perfect deep ball to Jalen Brooks down the sideline. - Kyle Youmans
Two UDFA safeties see time with first team defense
With Donovan Wilson spending time with the rehab group and Malik Hooker exiting practice during the team's stretching period with head athletic trainer Jim Maurer, it opened the door for UDFAs Alijah Clark and Mike Smith to practice with the first team defense in the secondary along with Juanyeh Thomas. Clark had gotten some select reps earlier, but it was the first time that Smith was seen as often as he was with the first unit. – Tommy Yarrish
Back in Business
Sam Williams is less than a year removed from a torn ACL injury that ended his season before it started. But the long journey back took another positive step on Tuesday as Williams was able to do some individual drills, although wearing a left knee brace. The Cowboys likely won't make him a full participant until training camp, and even then he might start out on PUP. But for now, getting another pass-rusher back on the field just got a step closer. - Nick Eatman
The Tol' road
For all of the rightful talk about things being resolved opposite CeeDee Lamb, thanks to the trade to acquire George Pickens, it appears Jalen Tolbert is beginning to take the early lead for the right to be viewed as WR3. He highlighted the final practice of OTAs with an athletic one-handed grab while streaking across the back of the end zone in double coverage; and then let the defenders hear about it afterwards. - Patrik Walker
