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The nature of basketball means people blessed with an inordinate amount of height have an inherent advantage on the court, and while Short Kings like Muggsy Bogues and Nate Robinson were able to hold their own in the NBA, they’re certainly the exception as opposed to the norm.
Height may not matter as much on the football field, but it can still give you an advantage over your opponents, and the fact that the average player measures in at 6’2″ is a testament to the edge it can give you when you consider the average American male stands at around 5’9″.
With that said, there are certain positions that tend to attract players on the shorter side, which includes the running backs who tend to clock in on the more diminutive end of the spectrum.
That certainly includes former Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn, the son of a Dallas Cowboys scout who got a call from his dad when the franchise selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
At first glance, it’s a bit hard to believe Vaughn has what it takes to hang in the NFL when you consider he measured in at 5’5″ at the NFL Combine (although the Cowboys officially list him at 5’6″).
However, he seems to be holding his own at training camp based on a viral video that highlights just how short he is compared to his teammates.
5’5" Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn looks like a toddler who broke loose on the field after stealing someone's phone and won't give it back pic.twitter.com/tofgQTLHRP
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) July 28, 2023
Only time will tell if Vaughn will end up making the final roster, and he still has some work to do to catch up to Tony Pollard and Malik Davis on the depth chart as the Cowboys look to fill the void that formed after Ezekiel Elliott was waived earlier this year.
However, the fact that he’s gotten the opportunity to compete in the first place is a testament to a skill set that overshadows his height.