Your Sunday morning Cowboys news.
Will this Cowboys rookie duo take over the offense? – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star
The Cowboys have two rookies looking to take over the backfield.
The Potential Duo: Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah
One week ago today, the Cowboys ran to the podium to secure an absolute firework in the fifth round. Two rounds later, they double-dipped at the position to bring in the exact opposite of that guy. Jaydon Blue, a speedster from Texas, was Dallas’ first choice at running back, and Phil Mafah, a big, strong runner from Clemson, became their second.
The two could not be further apart in their skill sets, but that’s what could make them a special rookie duo. Blue, a 5’9, sub-200 lbs guy with legit 4.2 speed, can bring the boom with explosive runs or vertical receptions, while Mafah can flat out bulldoze you with his 235 lb frame. That kind of contrast in playing style is what this offense needs.
Letting Blue and Mafah share the starting job would be looked at as a risk by some in the football world. They are both day-three draft picks after all. If we look at skill alone, however, they can both handle it, and Blue’s pass-catching ability stands out especially.
He reeled in 56 passes over the last two seasons at Texas, which is a crazy number for a guy with the potential to be a dominant runner as well. Mafah has a similar trait when it comes to goal-line scoring.
The Clemson product has rushed for 21 touchdowns over the last two seasons. In short, he can get you into the end zone. These two guys, if given the chance, have a lot of immediate impact skills to bring to the field, as well as sky-high potential.
Cowboys giving 1st-round pick every chance to succeed after disappointing start – Reid D. Hanson, Cowboys Wire
Cowboys are taking the slow and steady approach with last year’s first-round pick.
Second chances aren’t guaranteed in life; not even for former first-round picks. When Tyler Guyton rolled snake eyes his rookie season, the Dallas Cowboys were under no obligation to wipe the slate clean and just hand him the job back.
As their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Guyton wasn’t going to get cut from the roster or anything, but the Cowboys could have added competition to the mix and made things awfully uncomfortable for the second-year left tackle. Instead, they cleared the path for the young man to succeed.
Not only did Dallas add offensive line guru Klayton Adams to lead the offense in 2025, but they allowed Guyton’s top competition from last season, Chuma Edoga, to leave in free agency. Edoga replaced and rotated with Guyton at LT in 2024 after the rookie’s maturity, focus and effort were called into question. Edoga himself wasn’t seen as much more than replacement level, but even still, his exodus over the offseason shows a certain degree of faith and commitment Dallas has in the former Sooner.
Second chances aren’t guaranteed in life; not even for former first-round picks. When Tyler Guyton rolled snake eyes his rookie season, the Dallas Cowboys were under no obligation to wipe the slate clean and just hand him the job back.
As their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Guyton wasn’t going to get cut from the roster or anything, but the Cowboys could have added competition to the mix and made things awfully uncomfortable for the second-year left tackle. Instead, they cleared the path for the young man to succeed.
Not only did Dallas add offensive line guru Klayton Adams to lead the offense in 2025, but they allowed Guyton’s top competition from last season, Chuma Edoga, to leave in free agency. Edoga replaced and rotated with Guyton at LT in 2024 after the rookie’s maturity, focus and effort were called into question. Edoga himself wasn’t seen as much more than replacement level, but even still, his exodus over the offseason shows a certain degree of faith and commitment Dallas has in the former Sooner.
From Amazon to the Cowboys: Shavon Revel Jr.’s story is just getting started – Tommy Yarish, Dallascowboys.com
Third-round pick has had an amazing journey but its far from over.
Shavon Revel Jr.’s road to the NFL has been the furthest thing from easy. From dealing with multiple devasting injuries dating back to high school to working long shifts at Amazon with his father, his journey to being selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Cowboys is an inspiring one.
But it’s far from over.
“Job ain’t finished,” Revel said. “I still have to go out there and prove myself to the coaches. I’ve got to go out there and show them what I have. You can always talk, at the end of the day, you’ve got to prove to the coaches what you can do.”
The next chapter in Revel’s book will be overcoming the ACL tear he suffered three games into his final season at East Carolina. The surgery done to repair his knee was done by Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper, who Revel gave high marks to.
“He did an extraordinary job on my knee,” Revel said. “For me to be walking the week after my surgery should tell it all. All the connections that he had just helped me connect with other people and open up opportunities for me to help me know more about the facility and the Cowboys.”
Now about seven months removed from his injury, slowly but surely Revel is getting closer to making his way back onto the field and reaching his goal of being ready to play by the time the Cowboys head to Oxnard for training camp.
“Right now I can pretty much do everything,” Revel said. “Running straight line, cutting, haven’t gotten too much into that, just trying to take it day by day, trying to take it slow.”
Revel has had to take things slow plenty of times in his career already, but has never gotten down on himself throughout the process of recovery. Instead, he embraces each challenge that comes his way as an opportunity to come out better on the other side of it.
“It’s definitely made me a tough individual…” Revel said of dealing with his hardships. “I’m very hard on myself, and that’s what it did to me because I look back then, I don’t look back and myself and be like ‘Bro, you never did this and that,’ because everything happens for a reason. You learn and you grow, you learn from your mistakes, and that’s kind of what I did.”
Dallas Cowboys 2025 UDFA scouting report: DB Alijah Clark – Mike Poland, Blogging the Boys
What the Cowboys are getting in the former Syracuse Orange defender.
History
Alijah Clark, or also known by his nickname “Cinco” (a nickname given his mother when he started playing football at age five), was born on July 11, 2003, in Camden, New Jersey, Clark. He was a standout student-athlete at Camden High School, earning a four-star recruit status from 247Sports. He played both wide receiver and defensive back in high school, showcasing versatility with 21 receptions for 357 yards and four touchdowns on offense, and 22 tackles on defense during an abbreviated 2020 season.
Clark’s collegiate journey began at Rutgers in 2021 where he appeared in seven games, recording six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception. He made his collegiate debut against Temple and notched his first interception against Michigan State.
The following year saw Clark transfer to Syracuse where he started 11 of 12 games at safety. He tallied 56 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. Notably, he was not responsible for a single passing touchdown over 576 defensive snaps, contributing to a defense that ranked 14th nationally in passing defense.
In 2023, Clark started 12 of 13 games, recording 66 tackles, five tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. His two fumble recoveries tied for third-most in the ACC that season. He had standout performances against Army (eight tackles) and Clemson (six tackles, two pass breakups).
In his final collegiate season, Clark appeared in 12 games, accumulating 61 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and four pass breakups. He earned Defensive MVP in the Holiday Bowl after recording six tackles and an interception against Washington State.
THE GOOD
Has shown tremendous versatility having lined up as a split safety, in the box, and in the slot.
He has the range to play deep and the toughness to fit the run as a box defender.
In run defense he consistently takes good angles and doesn’t shy away from contact.
Shows good route recognition and awareness, especially in zone coverage.
Rarely caught out of position.
Effective wrapping up, especially in one-on-one situations.
Has very good work ethic, maturity, and resilience off the field. Vocal leader in the secondary.
