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Dallas Cowboys: 5 UDFAs with chance to make the final roster

By Randy Gurzi

EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 08: Tight end Charlie Taumoepeau #89 of the Portland State Vikings breaks away from safety Brady Breeze #25 of the Oregon Ducks to score a touchdown during the second quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 08: Tight end Charlie Taumoepeau #89 of the Portland State Vikings breaks away from safety Brady Breeze #25 of the Oregon Ducks to score a touchdown during the second quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 12: Rico Dowdle #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball during a game between University of South Carolina Gamecocks and University of Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images).
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 12: Rico Dowdle #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball during a game between University of South Carolina Gamecocks and University of Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images). /

4. Rico Dowdle, RB, South Carolina

One of the bigger positions of strength in Big D is the running back spot. Ezekiel Elliott is a former NFL rushing leader who is coming off a season in which he had 1,357 yards on the ground as well as 420 through the air with 14 total touchdowns.

Behind him is Tony Pollard, a fourth-round pick from 2019 that rushed for 455 yards and two touchdowns while adding 107 yards receiving and another touchdown grab. Now entering his second season, Pollard is expected to be more involved in the offense and there’s little doubt that Zeke will again top 1,000-yards, barring any injury of course.

Beyond those two running backs, the Cowboys don’t have much else to work with on their depth chart. The only other halfback on the roster is Jordan Chunn which means they could see either Rico Dowdle from South Carolina or Sewo Olonilua from TCU making the final roster.

While Olonilua has some intriguing size at 230 pounds, Dowdle seems to be the more NFL-ready prospect. The 5-11, 213-pound Dowdle started his career off with a bang for the Gamecocks as he led them in rushing as a true freshman. Unfortunately, he struggled with injuries for much of his career and that slowed him down after a hot start to the 2019 campaign.

Should he be able to shake the injury bug, there’s a good shot that Dowdle, who has a solid mix of speed and awareness, could make the Cowboys roster. They haven’t been taking three running backs to the 53-man roster lately but that could change under new head coach Mike McCarthy and Dowdle would be a solid third option behind Elliott and Pollard.

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