Cowboys Poised To Feed Off Each Other In RB Competition
The Dallas Cowboys' running back room is in a vastly different spot than it was 12 months ago.
Gone are Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle, in comes Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders and draftees Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. We then add in Deuce Vaughn and fullback Hunter Luepke, too.
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That is quite the room, and with head coach Brian Schottenheimer already stating that he envisions both Blue, who boasts a 4.38 40-yard dash, and Mafah, a brusing power back, as starters, we think a little thunder and lightning or Dine & Dash 2.0 might be in order.
And Mafah thinks so too.
'I can complement them really well, especially Jaydon,' Mafah said. 'Us being in the same class and being a great speed guy, me being a power guy, I feel like we can feed off of each other. Also, the other running backs in the room, Javonte, Miles Sanders, just looking up to those guys being able to ask them questions and gain knowledge, I feel like will help us, help our room in the long run.'
Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams At AT&T StadiumTony Fisher
Running back will be perhaps the most-watched training camp battle in Oxnard as all four in Williams, Sanders, Blue, and Mafah feel they can start behind Dak Prescott in 2025.
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We highly doubt Schottenheimer will carry more than four backs on the active roster, and that means someone will miss out.
Blue and his home-run speed loom as a key trait, so too Williams and Sanders' experience in the league, and as for Mafah, his leadership qualities and ability to punish defenders over the course of a game might see him get snaps too.
The Cowboys' running back room has a good mix of youth and play styles, and with each offering something different, it is going to make for one serious battle in the Oxnard sun.
And it's one where we have no idea who will come out on top, just as a training camp battle should be.
Related: Inside Cowboys Coach's Inspirational Speech To Rookies
Related: Cowboys Private Disagreement Lands Biggest Steal in NFL Draft

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