Three former Razorbacks who fit Cowboys' pressing draft needs

FRISCO, Texas — While Arkansas fans weren't big on games in AT&T Stadium, for a few former Razorbacks, logging a few more appearances in Arlington may be their best bet for a future in the NFL.

With new coach Brian Schottenheimer running the Cowboys, Dallas has seemingly taken on a new draft day philosophy. Rather than using premium picks to address the team's most pressing needs, Dallas simply listed all of its needs and has decided to take the highest player on the board who plays one of those positions.

What has resulted is the drafting of three players considered to have first round talent in Alabama guard Tyler Booker, Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and East Carolina defensive back Shavon Revel, Jr.

All three a avoided addressing the Cowboys' most glaring needs — wide receiver and running back. Behind CeeDee Lamb is a wide receiver room so depleted that if most of America played a game of Dallas Cowboys receiver or Price is Right contestant, most would feel uncertain about every single name.

As for running back, the Cowboys are in equally atrocious shape at the position. People would be hard pressed to look at the roster and see a clear third string level back, much less a back-up or starter.

As a result, SEC leading receiver Andrew Armstrong and running backs Ja'Quinden Jackson and Raheim "Rocket" Sanders have to hope former Razorback Jerry Jones uses one of his team's seven late round picks on them.

Dallas doesn't have another pick until the fifth round. The Cowboys know the odds of finding a player who makes the roster are low with their final picks, much less a regular contributor, but throwing multiple picks at its most pressing positions of need increase the odds of finding that needle in a haystack.

It wouldn't be surprising to see Dallas use at least three picks on receiver and two more on running back. Armstrong being a local player and the leading receiver with 1,140 yards in a league that was stacked with NFL talent makes him a prime candidate for maximizing a low value pick.

As for running back, the Cowboys are looking for bell cows with good speed and the build to withstand 20 carries per game. In a draft filled with diminutive backs, Jackson, also a local Dallas area player, stands out at 6-foot-2 and right at 230 pounds.

He timed a bit slow in the 40 with a 4.75 at the Shrine Bowl (he has run a 4.6) and has struggled with injuries, but when healthy, he can be a bruising back who can punch it in the end zone. He is a prototypical third round back who can create a lot of issues for opposing teams between the tackles.

Sanders would be the perfect complement to Jackson. He too is bigger than most backs in this draft at 6-foot, 217, and he has also shown he can handle a large workload.

He is more of an every down back with explosive break away speed in the 4.4 range. Sanders had 222 carries for 1,443 yards his sophomore season with Arkansas and had 183 carries this past year in South Carolina.

He had season long runs of 76 yards as a Razorback and 66 yards for the Gamecocks.

In addition, he has soft hands that make him dangerous in the passing game. As the Cowboys' running back room is currently constructed, he would immediately compete for a starting spot.

Whether all three make it to Dallas will be determined Saturday. However, any that do will see their odds of sticking in the league for at least a season go way up.