'Heck of a Camp!' Surprise TE as Cowboys 'Fifth Horseman' on 53-Man Roster?
The capacity of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette's Cajun Field, where Dallas Cowboys rookie tight end John Stephens Jr. played his college ball, is some 36,900 ... a stark contrast from the massive amount of seats he saw at AT&T Stadium during Saturday night's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
And yet, the lights never proved too bright for Stephens Jr., who was the game's leading receiver with five catches for 56 yards and a score.
Stephens Jr., a Logansport, La., native who spent the first three years of his college career at TCU, seemed right at home back in the Lone Star State, producing a night he won't soon forget.
“I loved it," Stephens Jr. said. "It was a great experience. Every kid’s dream. Definitely playing for the Dallas Cowboys, one of the biggest teams in America, it was a great feeling.“
Perhaps most importantly, Stephens Jr.'s impressive showing was simply a continuation of what he's done throughout training camp, only adding to the profile of a legitimate summer riser.
A collegiate receiver turned professional tight end, the 6-5, 221-pound Stephens Jr. finished his senior season with 14 receptions for 284 yards and a score, averaging over 20 yards per grab; he wasn't a centerpiece of the Ragin' Cajuns' offense but developed into an explosive, big-play threat.
And since signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, Stephens Jr., 23, has continued to make plays when his number has been called - just ask coach Mike McCarthy.
“What a camp he’s having," McCarthy said. "He’s impressed since Day One. He definitely stood out in OTAs. Got to camp and the opportunities he had with the older guys, and it wasn’t too big for him. And you could see tonight, he was out there competing and was having fun which is what you want.
"He made some obviously nice plays; he’s having a heck of a camp.”
McCarthy added that Stephens Jr. played with a clear mind and understood that, regardless of the stakes the preseason contests have on his future, football is still just a game, which allowed him to play loose.
The question now becomes how many more games Stephens Jr. gets to play under McCarthy - there are two more preseason games that he'll almost certainly see significant action in, but beyond those, there are few guarantees.
The Cowboys came into the summer believing they have their self-named "Four Horsemen'' at tight end. Starter Jake Ferguson and second-round rookie Luke Schoonmaker aren't going anywhere. Can Stephens compete with Peyton Hendershot and fourth-stringer Sean McKeon?
With continued strong play in practice and more game performances like Saturday night? Stephens Jr. might just get the opportunity to keep living out "every kid's dream" for the foreseeable future.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @ByDanielFlick
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