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The Dallas Cowboys had a number of needs heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.
One of the most glaring needs, however, was at running back.
Dallas cut ties with former superstar Ezekiel Elliott following the 2022 season and emerging star Tony Pollard is recovering from surgery for a broken leg.
Many believed that the Cowboys could even take a back as high as the first round, with Texas Longhorns star Bijan Robinson being discussed.
Instead, Robinson went off the board to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 overall.
Rounds ticked by and Dallas continued to watch options go off the board. UCLA satr Zach Charbonnet went to the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson’s backup at Texas, Roschon Johnson, headed to Chicago.
It was beginning to look like the Cowboys may avoid the position altogether
But then the sixth round arrived. And not only did Dallas selected a running back, it selected one that it’s more familiar with than anybody else.
Dallas Cowboys Draft Deuce Vaughn, Son Of Scout Chris Vaughn
With pick No. 212 in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn.
Vaughn rushed for 2,699 yards and 17 touchdowns the past two seasons. He played his high school football for Cedar Ridge in Austin, Texas.
Oh, and his father Chris is the assistant director of college scouting for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys caught the magical moment Chris called Deuce to let him know he was being selected on video. And it’s an absolute tearjerker.
https://twitter.com/dallascowboys/status/1652465564231561217?s=20
“Hey buddy…this is dad. My phone wasn’t working, but look here, man. Do you wanna come to work with me next week,” Chris says as he begins to choke up.
“I wouldn’t mind that at all,’ Deuce says in reply.
Chris then hands the phone to Jerry Jones who welcomes Deuce to the team. It’s a really beautiful moment in a draft full of them and even non-Cowboys fans agreed.
Don't care how you feel about the Cowboys this one was pretty special. As the great @RuffinMcNeill would say it had my eyeballs sweating. Shout out to my pop warner QB #WillMcClay who is in that room and never gets enough credit along with #ChrisVaughn for building that team! https://t.co/AtkmypgKXA
— Charles “Buck” Arbuckle (@CharlesArbuckle) April 30, 2023
Man, this is so good! Chris Vaughn has always been so real and genuine ever since I’ve known him when he was one of my coaches at Arkansas. To see this moment for he and his incredibly talented son @C_Vaughn22 is awesome! Well done @dallascowboys https://t.co/B1slaYdfNm
— Rhett Lashlee (@rhettlashlee) April 30, 2023
As much as people try to fight it there is still a strong human side to the game of football…This is one of the coolest moments I’ve ever seen in the game…. https://t.co/8jKQIw5LBt
— Jerry Ostroski (@Ostroski_BigO) April 30, 2023
Ok, this is officially a special moment. Even if it is the Cowboys. https://t.co/8WNidZURhl
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) April 30, 2023
Dallas may well have created the best moment of the entire 2023 NFL Draft. Oh, and it got a pretty darn good running back as well.