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Why aren't the Cowboys meeting with Ashton Jeanty at NFL Combine?

The Dallas Cowboys and Ashton Jeanty will not meet in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty runs for gain during the first quarter against the UNLV Rebels
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty runs for gain during the first quarter against the UNLV Rebels | Brian Losness-Imagn Images

The Dallas Cowboys and Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty have seemed destined for one another since even before the pre-NFL Draft process started.

Dallas desperately needs a running back, and Jeanty - a Frisco native - wants nothing more than to return to DFW and play for his hometown team. On top of that, a large portion of the Cowboys fan base has been vocal about wanting Jeanty to wear a star on his helmet.

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So, if that is the case, why are the Cowboys not interviewing their potential No. 12 overall pick at the NFL Scouting Combine this week?

According to Cowboys insider Nick Harris, there is a very simple explanation for that decision.

Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty runs against Boise State Broncos safety Rodney Robinson
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty runs against Boise State Broncos safety Rodney Robinson | Brian Losness-Imagn Images

Per Harris, instead of meeting with Jeanty in Indianapolis, the Cowboys will simply meet with him during their Dallas Day pre-draft event in Frisco, rather than using one of their select few visits at the combine.

"He’ll be a Dallas Day guy that they can bring in for a facility visit," Harris said on X. "No point in burning a combine visit on him."

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At the combine, each team is only allotted 60 interviews throughout the week, with each visit being relegated to a time limit of 15 minutes. So, in truth, if the Cowboys wait until Dallas Day to meet with Jeanty, they will have a much more hands on and lengthy opportunity on their hands to really get to know their potential first round pick.

In other words, the simple fact that the Cowboys are choosing not to meet with Jeanty in Indianapolis, is not indicitive of whether or not they have interest in drafting him, and he very well is still likely near the top of their board.

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writers’ Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014, covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.

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