Cowboys Draft 2020: 5 To Watch during Texas A&M-Texas State
DALLAS - Even if you’re not talking about the 2020 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys are — at least internally. So we do the same.
Their scouts will be at games throughout the country this weekend. So will I. As the editor-in-chief of the College Football America Yearbook, I’m on the road nearly every weekend covering games for the Yearbook, HeartlandCollegeSports.com and RoadTripSports.
In my role with CowboyMaven, I’ll be keeping you apprised of the players that I see from week to week and how they could fit from a Cowboys perspective. This week I’ll be at three games, starting with the Texas State-Texas A&M game down in College Station, Texas. So here are five players I’m keeping an eye on Thursday night from a Cowboys 2020 Draft perspective.
DT Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
One of several underclassmen to keep an eye on in College Station in 2019, Madubuike is considered one of the best offensive linemen in the SEC and will have played enough college football by the end of this season to choose to go to the NFL. CBSSports.com had Madubuike as a third-round selection, according to its Top 100 board right after the 2019 Draft. That’s easy to see why from the measurables. At 6-foot-2, 304 pounds, the tackle has already earned A&M’s top defensive tackle award each of the past two seasons and he’s coming off a year in which he had 10.5 tackles for loss. A great junior season could improve his stock. The Cowboys have several pending free agents up front, including DT Maliek Collins. Assuming Madubuike remains a second-round value and comes out for the 2020 Draft, he could prove a valuable commodity for any NFL team in their front four, including the Cowboys.
WR Kendrick Rogers, Texas A&M
In that same CBSSports.com Top 100 after the 2019 Draft, Rogers came up No. 81 overall. If you watched the Clemson and LSU games you know the 6-foot-3, 204-pounder. If you watched the rest of the Aggies’ games last year, you might not. Rogers had 10 tackles for 183 yards and 4 touchdowns against those pair of Tigers. For the season Rogers caught 27 passes for 336 yards and five touchdowns. So right now it’s about projection for the junior and not necessarily about production. Against a vulnerable Texas State secondary he should have an impressive night. But it will take an impressive season to catch the eyes of NFL scouts and convince Rogers that dipping his toe into the 2020 Draft is worth it. I’m interested to see if he can continue to high-point the football consistently, as he did against LSU. The Cowboys could lose two or three wide receivers this offseason and could be in the market for a third, fourth or fifth wide receiver in the 2020 Draft.
CB Charles Oliver, Texas A&M
Oliver is probably not a name you’re familiar with going into the 2019 season. But the Senior Bowl has the senior corner on its 2020 watch list, so there’s a good chance NFL scouts are keeping an eye on him, too. Last year he played in 11 games, had 31 tackles and broke up 8 passes. Now, Oliver is on a defense replete with hot talent. Pro Football Focus ranked all of the Aggies’ returning defensive talent and Oliver was only 10th overall. But cornerback is a position every NFL team investigates in the lead-up to the draft and if Oliver can nab a Senior Bowl invite, it probably means he had the type of season that could see him selected on draft weekend. The Cowboys draft a corner practically every season. It’s always a need position, especially from a depth standpoint.
C Aaron Brewer, Texas State
Brewer is one of two Texas State Bobcats on the Senior Bowl watch list. At 6-foot-3, 270 pounds (according to Texas State’s web site), Brewer is drastically undersized for the NFL. But his height likely means there’s room for him to add to his frame if he can get to the NFL. He’s earned All-Sun Belt selection every year he’s been at TSU, and Pro Football Focus ranked Brewer as the Sun Belt’s best run blocker and second-best pass blocker in 2018. So the talent is there. Yes, the Cowboys are set at center with Travis Frederick. But there’s room to take a flier on a fundamentally-sound blocker like Brewer, especially if he can put on the weight necessary to play guard, which could be needed if the Cowboys choose to let La’el Collins go in free agency and then move Connor Williams from left guard to right tackle.
LB Bryan London II
London II is the other Texas State player on the Senior Bowl’s radar. Like Brewer, he’s another Bobcat who has earned All-Sun Belt accolades every year he’s been at Texas State. Plus, at 6-foot-2, 232 pounds, he fits the type of linebacker defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli like in his defense. London led the Sun Belt Conference in tackles and solo tackles with 109 total stops and 53 solo last year. As with Brewer, what I’m looking for is how these guys compete with SEC-level talent. Something tells me the scouts that will be on hand Thursday night will want to see that, too. Joe Thomas and Justin March could be free agents for Dallas in 2020, leaving some depth on the bench behind Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee (and this assumes Lee will come back for another season in 2020, which isn’t a lock).
On Saturday night I’ll be in Waco, Texas for the Baylor-SFA game. We’ll look at players to watch from that contest later this week.
Want to talk more Cowboys? Check out Cowboymaven.com and connect with me on Twitter — @PostinsPostcard
