Getty Image / Matthew Pearce
Few franchises in the NFL have had as many great running backs over the years as the Dallas Cowboys. And, fans of “America’s Team” are hoping that what they saw from rookie Deuce Vaughn on Saturday in the team’s first preseason game.
Deuce Vaughn is a unique player in the league due to his size. At just 5-foot-5 and 179lb, he is the league’s shortest player by a good margin.
But, that didn’t stop him from having a really productive college career at Kansas State. In three seasons, he ran for 3604 yards and 34 touchdowns, with 18 touchdowns in 2021 and 1,558 yards in 2022. If you’re thinking of Darren Sproles, another diminutive running back out of Kansas State, you’re not far off. Sproles was known for his receiving prowess out of the backfield, and Vaughn had 114 catches for 1,250 yards in his Kansas State career.
That was enough for the Cowboys to ignore his size and take him in the sixth round, 212th overall. The team parted ways with franchise cornerstone Ezekiel Elliott, leaving Tony Pollard as the go-to back. But, Vaughn looks like someone who has to factor in the offense.
5’5 Cowboys rookie Deuce Vaughn 👀 pic.twitter.com/hOmEDNoTlm
— Football Is Life (@FootbaIl_Tweets) August 13, 2023
Deuce Vaughn is gonna win so many fantasy leagues this year pic.twitter.com/IEDpOk5Hkg
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 13, 2023
The rookie Deuce Vaughn puts Dallas (+155) in the lead! 💪 pic.twitter.com/z1AFA3gMTl
— OddsTrader (@OddsTrader_) August 12, 2023
Overall, he had 8 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown, and 3 catches for 6 yards. But, Cowboys fans and league observers were more excited than the stat line would lead you to believe.
I’m counting Skip as a Cowboys fan, not a league observer.
As I said from the moment they stole him in the 6th round … Deuce will be loose in Dallas this year. Dynamite in a small package. Deuce Vaughn: new Cowboy catalyst.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 13, 2023
It’s going to be so fun to watch the NFL world experience what Kansas State fans have known for years: Deuce Vaughn is incredible- and he’s good for football.
— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) August 13, 2023
Being a KState/Cowboys fan is not for the faint of heart, but I sure do feel like the universe rewarded me with this Deuce Vaughn fella
— 🌾 Nordy_Jelson 🌾 (@NordyJelson) August 12, 2023
Deuce Vaughn had no business being available in the 6th round of the draft
— Ernie (@es3_09) August 13, 2023
Long way to go, but it seems like he’s likely to carve out a role in this offense. Dallas lost the game to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 28-23.