Frisco, Texas – Looks like the perfect match
The Dallas Cowboys need a running back. Ashton Janti of Boise, who played high school football inside Star’s Ford Center when he attended Frisco (Texas) Lone Star High School, is considered the best runner in his class.
On Friday, Jeanti is on the Stars with the Cowboys. It is perfectly conceivable for the Cowboy to acquire a running back on the No. 12 pick on April 24th if it is still available.
Jeanty also represents the benefits that cowboys have in the draft process over many other NFL teams. That’s because he attended a high school in the Dallas metropolitan area, so he counts in the “Dallas Day” sum, not as one of the valuable 30 national visitors allowed before the draft.
“We are fortunate to see that North Texas, who we qualify, have so many really good footballers,” said Deputy Vice President Stephen Jones. “I think that means you have great football players, like we are in Texas, especially when we are in a hotbed like North Texas. [at The Star] in front. It’s great that there are so many people we can have. When it comes to spending a local day, some people have advantages. ”
The Cowboys will be holding an invitation-only “Dallas Day” on Friday. Most players are tested with timing, like another type of combine or pro day.
But Jeanti and other high prospects – Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Texas A&M defense lineman Schema Turner, Oklahoma state is Olied Gordon II, TCU receiver Savion Williams, Texas offensive lineman Cameron Williams, Miami tight end Elijah Aloyen nas ‘doesn’.
Typically, the Cowboys have 40-50 “Dallas Day” visitors. This year, that number is pushing 60. In addition to players with high school connections, building relationships with the region allows the Cowboys to invite all draft-qualified players from SMU, TCU and North Texas.
That contrasts with teams like the Green Bay Packers who are allowed to meet players from Wisconsin, Northwestern and northern Illinois but don’t have the same amount of high school talent in the area.
“If you were Miami, that was always a bit of a disadvantage. [Los Angeles] “There are a lot of professional prospects coming from metropolitan areas and are basically capable of making 30 free visits,” said Brian Gutekunst, Packers general manager.
Like national visitors that began on Wednesday night, top-tier “Dallas Day” visitors may meet with owner and general manager Jerry Jones, HR staff, head coach Brian Schottenheimer, coordinators and front offices up to position coach.
However, in 2018 he worked on Connor Williams of Texas, who grew up in Coppel, Texas, and chose to exercise despite his high position as an expected early round pick. The session was involved in the team’s decision to select Williams in the second round.
“It’s been as good training as Dallas Day all along,” former head coach Jason Garrett said after taking Williams. “He was lined up first and hustling so that you never saw anyone in that environment.”
In 2004, the Cowboys used their “Dallas Day” visit to learn about northwest Oklahoma wide receiver Patrick Clayton and Purdue cornerback Jack Reeves. They finished drafting both players in the seventh round, and in the end both became starters. Wide receiver Terrance Williams was his third pick in 2013.
In 2022, the Cowboys chose guard Tyler Smith in the first round, but the North Crowley High School alumni did not visit the star due to the conflict. Instead, the Cowboys trained with him in private in Tulsa.
“Whenever there’s a Dallas day, it feels like there’s always a good player. That’s a good group,” Stephen Jones said. “There are times when the top-end guys don’t come. They certainly don’t work. High-end guys, they’re going to visit. They don’t count against your 30s, so that’s a good thing.”
ESPN Packers reporter Rob Demovsky contributed to this story.
