Saturdays aren’t just for college football, they’re for Cowboys Nation to scout the future. Every week here at Blogging The Boys, we’ll spotlight the biggest college matchups and the players who could soon wear the Star. From potential first-rounders to under-the-radar prospects, we’ll give you the names to know and the games worth watching as we […] Saturdays aren’t just for college football, they’re for Cowboys Nation to scout the future. Every week here at Blogging The Boys, we’ll spotlight the biggest college matchups and the players who could soon wear the Star. From potential first-rounders to under-the-radar prospects, we’ll give you the names to know and the games worth watching as we look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. If you want to get a jump on who might help America’s Team in the years to come, this is your weekly college football guide. GAME OF THE WEEK For Week 0, college football and College Gameday is packing its bags, grabbing a passport, and heading across the Atlantic to Ireland for one of the most entertaining season openers in recent memory. Dublin’s Aviva Stadium becomes BTB’s College Game of the Week for Week 0, and is the battleground for two Big 12 rivals, Iowa State and Kansas State. Yep, Farmageddon has gone international Cowboys fans. Kansas State last played outside the U.S. in 1992. And as for Iowa State? Well, this is brand new territory for the program. Cyclone fans are trading tailgates for Temple Bar, and Wildcats fans are swapping cowbells for Celtic drums. Both teams enter ranked with K-State at No. 17, and Iowa State at No. 22, making this one of the most high-profile international college kickoffs ever. Both programs have Big 12 title aspirations and a loss in Week 0 would feel like leaving Dublin with a hangover and no souvenirs. Win, and you’ve got the jump in the Big 12 heading into September. Lose, and you’re already playing catch-up. Game Overview Matchup: Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas State Wildcats. August 23, 2025, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland. Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. (EST) K-State favored by 3.5 points This marks a historic moment as the first-ever Big 12 matchup in Ireland, and the 11th Aer Lingus College Football Classic held on Irish soil. Player Watch Kansas State: Austin Romaine, LB One of the best run-stopping linebackers last year and was impressive in sniffing out the ball barrier. His ability to diagnose plays quickly and react proactively sets him apart here among this year’s linebacker draft class. He’s a fundamentally sound tackler and known for his wrap-up technique and recorded 96 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two sacks in 2024. Straight-line athleticism is an issue. This limits his effectiveness against vertical threats like speedy tight ends or receivers in man coverage. Pursuit angles need work and shedding blocks is a massive coaching point for him this season. Right now, Romaine looks to be the prototypical “Mike” linebacker, instinctive, physical, and disruptive. His tackling prowess, run-read efficiency, and knack for creating turnovers make him a defensive cornerstone at Kansas State and a rising NFL draft prospect. However, questions linger around his straight-line speed and agility in coverage situations. Iowa State: Domonique Orange, DT Known as “Big Citrus” for his size (6’4”/328 lbs), Orange uses his mass effectively. His upper-body power routinely overpowers centers and guards, collapsing pockets and clogging running lanes. He possesses good snap anticipation and burst, getting into gaps early and making plays before blockers can set up. Named to The Athletic’s “Freaks List,” highlighting his rare athletic profile for his size. As for weaknesses, Orange struggles against multi-block scenarios. His technique and leverage sometimes fall short, he doesn’t always shed or split blocks as often as he should. Pad level can creep up during rushes, making him vulnerable to counter moves. Plus, limited lower-body flexibility hinders his ability to bend around blockers effectively. His arm length will be something to watch for, and technical refinement are questions moving forward, but let’s see how he’s adjusted during Spring training. Overall, Orange is a physical specimen, massive, powerful, and explosive from the interior. For the NFL to unlock all of his potential, he’ll need to refine fundamentals like pad level, leverage, and block shedding. As he is right now, he profiles best as a rotational, high-impact player, especially in pass-rush or short-yardage packages. Jontez Williams, CB Williams tallied four interceptions last season which included a streak of four straight games creating a turnover. His knack for creating defensive plays makes him a flashy impact play waiting to happen. Transitioning from a multi-positional high school athlete, including time as a wide receiver, Williams showcases strong ball skills and instincts, carrying over into his cornerback play. He’s almost a little like Trevon Diggs in that respect. Where he falls short is the fact Williams isn’t the biggest corner. In the NFL, he’ll often face taller, more physical receivers and at 5’11” and sub 200 lbs he’s undersized. He’ll need to show grit in contested scenarios and refine his press coverage technique to compensate and raise his stock this season. Consistency and lockdown ability throughout a full season versus top-tier receivers will define his draft ceiling. If Williams can continue to refine his footwork and physical presence in coverage, he profiles as a Day 2 pick, someone who could develop into a valuable nickel CB or boundary starter. So Cowboys Nation, keep your eye on him, he’s the kind of dynamic, instinctive corner who could be a difference-maker on defense and fill a gap in 2026. Fresno State vs.Kansas Fresno State Bulldogs roll into Kansas, taking on the Jayhawks at the beloved David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in what’s shaping up as an intriguing season opener. Bulldog fans are riding into this one with a fresh face under center, E.J. Warner, son of NFL legend Kurt Warner, who has claimed the starting quarterback job. The double transfer from Rice brings serious pedigree, and a name that comes with

The Dallas Cowboys officially tied a bow on their preseason on Friday night and did so with a fun win over the Atlanta Falcons. It was great to see the Cowboys play well and do so in their home building. Preseason results don’t matter, but establishing some good vibes with the season opener less than […] The Dallas Cowboys officially tied a bow on their preseason on Friday night and did so with a fun win over the Atlanta Falcons. It was great to see the Cowboys play well and do so in their home building. Preseason results don’t matter, but establishing some good vibes with the season opener less than two weeks away is a very good thing, especially with the recent headlines surrounding this team. Needless to say, it felt good for good things to happen. Below you will find our final stock report for the exhibition part of the season. Next time we lace ‘em up it will be with the Cowboys either undefeated or having suffered defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. Let’s begin. Stock Up: James Houston The Cowboys are going to have to find a way to get James Houston on the 53-man roster. He can play. It goes without saying that pass rusher is where this team is most deep and Houston would add to that. He has shined and popped ever since joining the team and that he finished the preseason with a strong showing means he has done all he can. Stock Up: Joe Milton Joe Milton played the best game of his Dallas Cowboys career on Friday night. Easily. This was his rushing touchdown on the night, but he had an impressive passing one as well (more on that in a moment). Beyond the stat sheet he finally looked calm and controlled while navigating the game as a quarterback. He and the coaching staff deserve serious kudos for getting things together. We already knew that Milton was going to be this team’s QB2, but he likely calmed some of the waters of panic with his game against Atlanta. That the Cowboys leaned into his rushing ability is also really exciting as that is the most dynamic part of his game. If he ever did have to play in the regular season it would make sense to lean into that. Stock Up: Jaydon Blue Friday offered our first chance to see Jaydon Blue play football for the Cowboys and he absolutely lived up to the billing. Blue would have an injury scare before the night was over (we will provide more information around here when it is available), but he is very clearly someone who can help this team immediately. Obviously that is when he is healthy. It was wonderful to see Blue involved. All the best to him from a health standpoint. Stock Up: Brandon Aubrey Brandon Aubrey made a 64-yard field goal. A SIXTY-FOUR YARD FIELD GOAL. It was only the preseason, but that gets a stock up every day of the week. Stock Up: Jalen Brooks It is going to be very interesting to see how many receivers the Cowboys carry and which ones they do. Clearly the Jonathan Mingo injury could play a role in that overall math. The way that Jalen Brooks played is going to play a role as well. Look at this throw and catch (this was the aforementioned Milton pass). Brooks has done a great job of scratching and clawing for opportunities ever since joining the Cowboys. Whether or not it works out this year will remain to be seen, but he gave it his best shot on Friday night. Stock Up: Brian Schottenheimer We have not had many opportunities to sing Brian Schottenheimer’s praises during the preseason and no one was happier to see the Cowboys just play football and do so well (what with all of the recent headlines as noted) than him. Beyond the fact that the team appeared ready and focused for their final preseason game, it is particularly impressive that Schotty gave the offense the green light with under a minute left in the first half. It was that sequence that led to Aubrey’s booming swish from downtown. Good for Brian Schottenheimer. It was only the preseason as noted, but it was technically his first time experiencing a win as the Dallas Cowboys head coach. Stock Up: Shemar James How about an interception for the rookie to close out the preseason?! James has had a fantastic first run with the Cowboys. It will be a ton of fun to see how his rookie season goes. Static Stock: Ryan Flournoy and Deuce Vaughn You may have forgotten what static stock is… if it isn’t obvious it’s a player who was a little bit of both and bad. With regards to this exact moment it is more about these players’ placement on the roster as far as the bad is concerned. Ryan Flournoy had a decent night against Atlanta, but it is hard to know if it was enough to earn him a spot with the final group. This can also be said for running back Deuce Vaughn, but to a significantly lower degree. I imagine we all assume that Vaughn won’t make the final roster, but we should note that he played fairly well in what may have been his last game wearing the Cowboys uniform. Stock Down: Mazi Smith It is hard to keep banging this drum as it feels unproductive. Unfortunately for Mazi Smith, he did not exactly shine outside of when the Falcons left him completely unblocked. Will the Cowboys go so far as cutting him? There is not a ton of precedent for them parting ways with a first-round pick before their rookie contract expired since the introduction of the rookie wage scale (Taco Charlton is the only instance… shout out to Ann Arbor). That is a big question. Stock Down: Penalties While it wasn’t a huge situation, the Cowboys did struggle

It does not matter if it’s only the preseason; winning feels good. After a stumbling 0-2 start in the preseason, the Dallas Cowboys coasted past the Atlanta Falcons to get the win in front of the home fans at AT&T Stadium, the first for Brian Schottenheimer as head coach of the Cowboys. The offense showed […] It does not matter if it’s only the preseason; winning feels good. After a stumbling 0-2 start in the preseason, the Dallas Cowboys coasted past the Atlanta Falcons to get the win in front of the home fans at AT&T Stadium, the first for Brian Schottenheimer as head coach of the Cowboys. The offense showed a lot more consistency, and the passing and the running game complemented each other very well. The Cowboys had their best game on the ground, going for over 100 yards as a team. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for those who needed it, however. Mazi Smith needed to have a big game, and unfortunately, he did not, and the same concerns lingered. He was driven backwards and did not provide enough as a pass rusher. This leaves his roster status uncertain. As for others, a few players made tremendous strides that did enough to instill confidence from the coaches. Here are three stars who shone bright in the preseason finale and either seemingly secured a spot on the roster or eased concerns from the fans. Honorable Mentions: Mike Smith & Shemar James For Mike Smith, it might be too little too late. He had a terrific game and was often in the right place at the right time. He led the team in tackles with eight, four of them of the solo type. Although he won’t get credit for the interception, he smartly read the deep pass by Ben DiNucci to force the ball in the air as it landed in the waiting arms of Robert Rochell. Also, Shemar James has stood out throughout the preseason despite the Cowboys having problems stopping the run. James is a physical downhill hitter who levels running backs, but his marquee play of the night was an interception of Easton Stick. James did an excellent job reading the eyes of Stick to step in front of the pass and effectively end the Falcons’ chances of making a comeback. James also had five stops and another pass defended. Joe Milton Over the first two games of the preseason, Joe Milton had come under a lot of fire for his troubles with his accuracy and making quick decisions with the ball. That wasn’t the case on Friday. Milton got the ball out quickly at the top of his dropback, hit his receivers in the chest, and overall had a much better command of the offense. He also did a much better job understanding when to leave the pocket to run, versus when to hang in the pocket for an extra second to find his receivers downfield. On the opening drive, Milton identified that the defense was out of position, and he waltzed into the end zone to give Dallas the early 7-0 lead. Outside the pocket, he was terrific and made a really nice play in one instance where he rolled to his right and found Traeshon Holden along the sideline for a nice gain. Milton’s best throw of the night was a beautiful touch pass to the end zone to Jalen Brooks who was able to haul in the pass for a touchdown. Ignore the cumulative stats and his 55% completion percentage; Milton’s performance was a step in the right direction and was something for Milton and the team to feel good about. Ryan Flournoy With Traeshon Holden playing as well as he has over the course of the preseason and training camp, you felt that Ryan Flournoy needed to have a strong game to close the preseason to cement his place on the team. He very well may have with his game against the Atlanta Falcons. He and Milton developed a rapport early and became Milton’s most consistent target on Friday. He ran crisp routes out of his breaks and made him a good target for Milton. During the Cowboys’ two-minute drive at the end of the first half, Flournoy’s catch and run helped the Cowboys set up Brandon Aubrey for a 64-yard field goal to close the half. Flournoy also showed up in the running game, making multiple blocks that opened some nice holes for Deuce Vaughn to run through. Flournoy appears to have done enough to make the team, squeezing out the other receivers at the bottom of the roster. A great showing by the second-year receiver. James HoustonIf you keep stacking good days like James Houston, it’s easy to get noticed. The trend continues for Houston as he came out with a couple of flashy plays against the Falcons to put the finishing touches on a great preseason. Early in the contest, Houston forced his way through the offensive line to drop Easton Stick for a big loss on a sack. Then, later in the game, from his stand-up defensive end stance, Houston wisely read the jet sweep coming to his side and laid down the boom for a tackle for loss. So far, Houston has been a problem for opposing offenses. He’s got great hands to work through the offensive lineman’s initial punch and has a relentless motor to counter the offensive line and string moves together. He’s separated himself from the other rushers in the preseason to where it’s hard to imagine him not making the team. If somehow, he doesn’t, the Cowboys will be sweating to see if he clears waivers to get him back on the practice squad. 2 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Preseason

After a summer spent in Oxnard, the Dallas Cowboys opened their preseason to less-than-stellar results, dropping the first two games to the Los Angeles Rams and the Baltimore Ravens. The offense has not lived up to expectations, and the rollercoaster ride has had more valleys than peaks. One factor has been the running game, which […] After a summer spent in Oxnard, the Dallas Cowboys opened their preseason to less-than-stellar results, dropping the first two games to the Los Angeles Rams and the Baltimore Ravens. The offense has not lived up to expectations, and the rollercoaster ride has had more valleys than peaks. One factor has been the running game, which outside a late flurry of yardage from Malik Davis against the Rams and a little Phil Mafah work, has been nonexistent. Conversely, the rushing defense has not been much better, and the Cowboys have yielded 164.5 rushing yards over the first two games of the preseason. In the finale, it will be interesting to see how the play-calling of head coach Brian Schottenheimer influences the staff’s ability to evaluate the bottom of the roster. With that said, here are storylines to pay attention to in tonight’s final tune-up against the Atlanta Falcons. QB Snaps Although Joe Milton has made great strides at training camp, it has not translated to the games during the preseason, causing some concern about Milton’s viability as the primary backup for Dak Prescott. One critique against Milton is that he simply throws the ball too hard, to which Milton responded. Whether this is true or not, Milton is missing his receivers when they are open, and the timing between him and his receivers is off. Milton can make some signature throws that others can’t, and his 49-yard connection with Jonathan Mingo was a thing of beauty. Milton is expected to play tonight, but what if Milton has fewer snaps than Will Grier? Furthermore, what happens if Grier has a terrific game? Almost two years to the day, Grier was informed by the team that he would be released to make room for Trey Lance on the roster, and Grier delivered with 305 passing yards and four total touchdowns. One has to wonder if Grier goes nuclear once again, could it sway the coach’s impression of him to elevate him to QB2 over Milton? Let’s be clear, Milton’s place on the roster is assured. He’s not going anywhere, but Grier may give the coaches confidence to start in place of Prescott for a game or two if Prescott gets injured. On the other hand, a very poor game from both quarterbacks opens Pandora’s box, and the Cowboys are prompted to search elsewhere for a backup quarterback. Who steals the show? After an awkward landing last week, Jonathan Mingo sustained a knee injury that will keep him on the sidelines for some time. That leaves the door open for other skill position players to get significant playing time tonight. Ryan Flournoy, who made the team last year, has potential, but Traeshon Holden has been breathing down his neck in pursuit of a spot on the team. Jalen Cropper and Josh Kelly have both been in the mix as kick returners, with Kelly averaging over 20 yards per return in both preseason games thus far. However, neither has made a highlight play to turn heads in the games yet. The same goes for the tight ends. Rivaldo Fairweather had a touchdown reception versus the Rams, but since then has been fairly quiet. Whereas John Stephens, who was a standout at camp two years ago before a knee injury, has not been much of a factor himself. It’s all out there for the taking, but somebody has to step up big in tonight’s finale. Who is already safe? Equally as important as how many snaps certain players get tonight is who is limited or does not play at all. Two players who have had strong camps and parlayed them into good tape on the field are James Houston and Zion Childress. Houston has been a menace coming off the edge and has great hand placement to keep offensive linemen’s hands off him. He also has the power to convert speed to power to bull rush a lineman. He forced two incompletions against the Ravens that jumped off the screen on film. Zion Childress has also had a great camp, and he’s contributed in so many spots on defense. He can play slot or at safety and can come down in the box to support the run. He has a great nose for football and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Should Childress not be in the starting lineup tonight, that should be an indication of his status on the team. That is due to his own merits, but the Cowboys do have several injuries at cornerback; therefore, Childress’s making the team is part of his hard work, and Dallas is in survival mode until their secondary is healthy. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Preseason

With one more preseason game to go and roster cuts due by Tuesday, we wanted to run through the Dallas Cowboys roster and look at how different players compare to others in perceived job security. Some will be fighting for their lives on Friday night, but many won’t even have a helmet because their spot […] With one more preseason game to go and roster cuts due by Tuesday, we wanted to run through the Dallas Cowboys roster and look at how different players compare to others in perceived job security. Some will be fighting for their lives on Friday night, but many won’t even have a helmet because their spot on the 53-man roster is already decided. Our first list shows the guys who absolutely, without a doubt, will be on the team in 2025. They may not debut until later in the year due to injury designations, but we’re confident that they won’t be waived injured and will get their chance once medically cleared. We’ll give you the names first, then dig into things below. The 100 Club QB Dak Prescott RB Javonte Williams RB Jaydon Blue FB Hunter Luepke WR CeeDee Lamb WR George Pickens WR KaVontae Turpin WR Jalen Tolbert WR Jonathan Mingo (IR/PUP) TE Jake Ferguson TE Luke Schoonmaker TE Brevyn Spann-Ford OT Tyler Guyton OT Terence Steele G Tyler Booker G Tyler Smith C Cooper Beebe OL Brock Hoffman OL Asim Richards OL Hakeem Adeniji DE Dante Fowler DE Donovan Ezeiruaku DE Marshawn Kneeland DT Osa Odighizuwa DT Solomon Thomas LB DeMarvion Overshown (IR/PUP) LB Marist Liufau LB Jack Sanborn LB Kenneth Murray CB Trevon Diggs (IR/PUP) CB DaRon Bland CB Shavon Revel Jr. (IR/PUP) CB Kaiir Elam CB Caelen Carson (IR/PUP) S Malik Hooker S Donovan Wilson S Juanyeh Thomas S Markquese Bell K Brandon Aubrey P Bryan Anger LS Trent Sieg And with just that top tier, the roster is filling up fast. There are 41 names on that list, 36 if all of the IR/PUP guys don’t count against the 53 in Week 1. Assuming those four aren’t returning soon, that still only leaves 17 spots for the rest of our roster hopefuls. This group offers a wide range of potential roles and importance to the team, but they all fit the criteria of having seemingly guaranteed roster spots. There’s obviously a huge difference between the likes of Prescott and Lamb and a backup like Markquese Bell. But with a fresh, new three-year contract and a clear role in the safety rotation, Bell shouldn’t feel any less secure. A few other names merit explanation. Rookie RB Jaydon Blue may only be a fifth-round pick, but there’s no conceivable way he’s not on the roster. It’s not like he has any real competition, and a fifth for a RB in Dallas is no small commitment. We also see Javonte Williams as a lock given that he’s received starter treatment for several weeks, running mainly with the first-team offense in practice and being kept out of preseason games. Even if the Cowboys were to swing an eleventh-hour trade for a potential starter, Williams would still be around as a third-down back given his exceptional pass blocking. Staying in the backfield, Hunter Luepke may seem like an odd choice as a roster lock, but his versatility makes him valuable. The coaches have praised it all summer, and beyond the pure fullback role, he helps your depth at RB and TE and plays special teams. Current injury issues at TE with Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford only further enhance Luepke’s security. If not for Jonathan Mingo’s recent knee injury and expected absence until at least Week 5, Jalen Tolbert may not have made this tier. But now, he should be a lock given his experience, leaving other WR prospects to battle it out for one or two remaining spots. Speaking of Spann-Ford, he’s missed nearly all of training camp but nobody’s really stepped up in his absence. He may be the 41st name on this list in terms of actual security, but we just don’t see why the Cowboys would dump him now. Your offensive line backups seem pretty clear. Hoffman gives you center/guard flexibility, Richards covers guard and left tackle, and Adeniji gives you all-important depth at right tackle. We don’t really have a swing tackle this year; Nate Thomas is probably your LT backup (discussed below) and Adeniji has the right side. A couple more guys probably make it for more interior line depth, but we’ll get to them in the next tier. On defense, we had to leave Micah Parsons off due to the trade demand and holdout potential. We’re 99% positive he will be a Cowboy in 2025, new deal or not, but that 1% is why he couldn’t be in The 100 Club. We also couldn’t include Sam Williams because of the competition he faces from James Houston and Tyrus Wheat for the bottom of the DE depth chart. We’ll talk about more of the defensive decisions, particularly some names that you may think are missing, in the next list. “Whoah! Really?” QB Joe Milton III QB Will Grier OL Nate Thomas DE Micah Parsons DT Mazi Smith CB Israel Mukuamu Again, Parsons is only here on the slim chance he gets traded or decides to hold out of regular-season games. Even without a new deal, he still has $1.4 million coming to him each week on his fifth-year option salary. As ugly as this contract conflict has felt at times, Parsons remains present at team activities. We know how badly he wants to play. To go from here to him sitting out, let alone getting traded, just feels like too great a leap. Another big surprise on defense would be if the Cowboys actually part with Mazi Smith at final cuts. No, things still aren’t going great for the former first-round pick. But it’s not like there’s any great option to replace him. Smith should at least get

The Dallas Cowboys will play their final preseason game tonight against the Atlanta Falcons. This will be the final opportunity for many of the down-roster players to make an impression and keep their NFL dreams alive. Dallas is not expected to play many starters at all, but there are going to be some really interesting […] The Dallas Cowboys will play their final preseason game tonight against the Atlanta Falcons. This will be the final opportunity for many of the down-roster players to make an impression and keep their NFL dreams alive. Dallas is not expected to play many starters at all, but there are going to be some really interesting position battles to watch. The running back room has yet to be settled, but we should see roster-lock Jaydon Blue get some action after returning from injury. Plus, the Joe Milton experiment will roll on, and hopefully improve this time around. Defensive tackle and cornerback are two defensive positions that still have some mystery about them. Defensive tackle because it is a weak roster spot, and cornerback because of so many injuries. After tonight is over, we start the real thing. Info for the game. Cowboys vs Falcons game info Important links: Cowboys depth chart | Roster Date: Aug 22nd, 2025 Game time: 8:00 PM EST Location: Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium TV channel: Local: KTVT 11 National: NFL Network Coverage Map: 506 Sports Radio: 105.3 The Fan | SXM Streaming: ESPN+ Cowboys record: (0-2) Falcons record: (0-2) Odds: Dallas -2.5, courtesy of FanDuel Prediction: Cowboys 23 – Falcons 18 Enemy blog: The Falcoholic Twitter: @BloggingTheBoys Facebook: Please Like us! 0 CommentsSee More: