Cowboys LB levels coach during rookie minicamp pad drills, gets staff fired up

The Dallas Cowboys' 2025 rookie class is getting in their first work with head coach Brian Schottenheimer and the revamped coaching staff during rookie minicamp at The Star in Frisco this weekend.

Dallas' haul in this year's NFL Draft was very well-received by NFL pundits, so Cowboys Nation was excited to get an early look at what the players could bring to the table.

One player who immediate has some big shoes to fill is fifth-round pick Shemar James, a standout linebacker from the Florida Gators.

MORE: Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer does something no Dallas head coach has done since 2010

James will be wearing the No. 50 jersey which was once worn by franchise legend Sean Lee. While it is a heavy burden. James wasted no time showing everyone that he is a major force on the defensive side of the ball.

According to Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com, James leveled an assistant coach during pad drills and had the entire coaching staff fired up as he moved on through drills.

No video allowed but…

Shemar James knocked one of the very large coaching assistants on his back during a pad drill in Day 2 of #Cowboys rookie minicamp.

The assistant and others celebrated by hugging the rookie LB as he went to the next station.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) May 3, 2025

#Cowboys rookie LB Shemar James was described as an “energetic” leader by Florida coaches. You can see it early on in rookie minicamp. He gets dapped up by a Cowboys assistant after knocking him to the ground in a blocking drill. pic.twitter.com/ZulTpz6qje
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) May 3, 2025