Latest news with #TylerBooker
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Cowboys Rookie Tyler Booker: Not Winning at Alabama Fuels My 'Burn and Passion'
The Dallas Cowboys beefed up the trenches in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker with the No. 12 pick — and the Crimson Tide alum is hungry to make Dallas a contender. "I love to win, and I hate to lose. I lost too much this past year. I lost a lot more than I should have in college, me being at Alabama," Booker said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News. "I left without a national championship and that's something that is going to burn at me for the rest of my life. So I'm going to bring that burn and passion and desire with me to the NFL and transfer that over to wanting to win Super Bowls." Booker, a four-star recruit, played three seasons at Alabama (2022-24), with whom he shined. In 2022, Booker played at both guard spots before becoming Alabama's full-time left guard and earning first team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press in 2023. Last season (2024), Booker started 12 games at left guard, one at left tackle and was an All-American. As for Booker's Crimson Tide teams as a whole, Alabama went a combined 32-8 over the past three seasons, making the College Football Playoff in the 2023 season but losing a heart-breaker to eventual-national champion Michigan in the semifinal round. Last season, Alabama went 9-4 overall and 5-3 in SEC play, but Booker played in the team's ReliaQuest Bowl loss to Michigan. Booker, who stands at 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds, joins a Cowboys team that missed the playoffs last season at 7-10. Meanwhile, quarterback Dak Prescott missed the final nine games due to a hamstring injury, and Dallas fired head coach Mike McCarthy after five seasons, then promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Booker's selection marks the third time in the past four years that the Cowboys have drafted an offensive lineman in the first round; Dallas selected Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton with the No. 29 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and Tulsa's Tyler Smith with the No. 24 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. With Guyton and Smith on the left side, Booker is projected to start at right guard for the Cowboys. "I'm very excited about training camp and putting the pads on," Booker said. "I'm really excited for the opportunity to get better, because I know there will be things I have to work on and things I have to get better at and things I have to learn. I'm very excited to go through the whole process and learn." Booker and the Cowboys open the 2025 preseason on the road against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 9 and open the regular season on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Dallas Cowboys Tyler Booker recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys Headlines: Lamb, Pickens to be the NFL's most dangerous duo
The 2025 Cowboys feel like a team on the verge of something different. Not just because of the new faces, but because of the mindset shift that's been building since last season's disappointment. Zack Martin is gone, but Tyler Smith is stepping up. Dak Prescott is healthy, confident, and surrounded by the most explosive receiving duo he's ever had in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. There's a quiet urgency in the building, a sense that this group knows time isn't on their side, but the opportunity is. Training camp will bring clarity, but the early signs are hard to ignore. Lamb's locked in, Pickens is already turning heads, and Tyler Booker looks like he belongs in the trenches. Even with questions around Javonte Williams' role or how soon Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown can return, there's belief. The Cowboys aren't just trying to bounce back, they're trying to reset the tone. And if things click the way they're hoping, they just might. Cowboys' Receiver Duo Poised To Be NFL's No. 1 Deep-Ball Threat - Athlon Sports Link One key area that fans will be excited to watch closely is CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens lining up together in 2025; the Cowboys could end up boasting the NFL's most dangerous deep-ball duo. ESPN's Mina Kimes highlights how both receivers rank in the top five for deep catches over the last three seasons, calling them a 'nightmare' for defenses, especially against single-high coverage. Dak Prescott, who called their presence 'monumental,' has already been building chemistry with both through offseason work, including his annual QB-pass catcher retreat. With elite downfield threats and a fully healthy Prescott, Dallas' offense is primed to stretch defenses vertically like never before. How Nick Saban helped prepare Cowboys' Tyler Booker for NFL position switch - CBS Sports Link Tyler Booker's transition from Alabama to the NFL has been smoother than most thanks to Nick Saban's preparation, including reps at both guard spots early in his college career. The Cowboys' first-round pick is stepping in at right guard to succeed Zack Martin, and his passion for winning—fueled by missing out on a national title—has carried into his rookie year. Booker is leaning on fellow Cowboys lineman Tyler Smith, absorbing advice and staying coachable throughout the offseason. His competitive nature, even going viral for flattening a camper at his own youth camp, has earned him respect from teammates who see him as a relentless, NFL-ready presence. Expecations for Diggs & Overshown in 2025? - Link Expectations for Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown in 2025 are cautious due to both recovering from second surgeries on the same knee. Diggs is rehabbing away from team facilities and may begin training camp on the PUP list, with hopes he returns by midseason. Overshown is working with the Cowboys' staff and could return around October or Thanksgiving, but there's no set timeline. Given their injury history, any contributions from either player this season should be viewed as a bonus rather than a guarantee. Predicting Every NFL Team's Biggest Bust of the 2025 NFL Season - Bleacher Report Link Bleacher Report predicts Javonte Williams as the Cowboys' biggest potential bust for the 2025 season, citing concerns over his post-ACL explosiveness and a crowded backfield. Despite being penciled in as RB1, Williams is expected to split carries with Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, and rookie Jaydon Blue. Dallas had the NFL's 30th-ranked rushing attack in 2024, and there's skepticism that Williams can be the answer. While his $3 million deal limits financial risk, fans and fantasy managers may want to temper expectations. Tyler Smith ready to be best version of himself as Cowboys prepare for 2025 season - Sports Illustrated Link With Zack Martin retiring after an 11-year Hall of Fame-caliber career, the Cowboys are turning the page to a new era on the offensive line. Pro Bowler Tyler Smith, now entering his fourth season, is stepping into a leadership role and embracing the challenge of becoming the anchor up front. At the OL Masterminds Summit, Smith emphasized his commitment to improving every part of his game and shared advice Martin once gave him: always be an ascending player. With young talent around him and a mindset rooted in growth, Smith is poised to lead the Cowboys' line into a promising 2025 season. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rookie Tyler Booker's 'Legal Assault' Already Compares to Four Dallas Cowboys Legends
Rookie Tyler Booker's 'Legal Assault' Already Compares to Four Dallas Cowboys Legends originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Cowboys may have found their next standout O-lineman in Alabama's Tyler Booker who they selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement Booker's arrival comes at a pivotal time, as future Hall of Famer Zack Martin retired following the 2024 season—leaving a major void on the offensive line. And so far? Booker has been better than advertised after a strong summer of early offseason workouts. 'Despite the padless practices, Booker has impressed with his willingness to learn and work,' ESPN's Todd Archer wrote. 'He has been with the starters from the first OTA through the minicamp, so there's no pretense about what is expected. He is being viewed the same way the Cowboys have viewed Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Tyler Smith: as a Day 1 starter.' It should come as no surprise Booker is a plug and play starter after dominating collegiate competition. He stands 6-5, 321 pounds and plays the game with the type of nastiness and aggression that makes opposing defenders 'not love football anymore.' Advertisement His Draft time quote resonates ... 'I just love the aggressiveness and the tenacity of the game of football. It's legal assault out there,' Booker said. 'I love football. The brand of football I play, I make guys not love football anymore.' Booker is a natural leader and has shown an impressive willingness to continue learning the nuances of his position at the NFL level. 'Whether it's the responsibilities that (Booker) has to bring to the huddle or whether it's his communications on the line, he's doing a hell of a job,' quarterback Dak Prescott said. 'And you can tell this guy is a football player. Guy has a lot of pride standard in what he does.' Advertisement With his physical tools and winning mindset, Booker will be a cornerstone of the Cowboys' offensive line for years to come. Related: Cowboys' Dak Prescott Given Shocking Ranking Among Top 10 Quarterbacks Related: Cowboys' Dez Bryant Issues All-In Super Bowl Prediction for NFC East This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Rookie Shares 'Calm Down' Nick Saban Story
Cowboys Rookie Shares 'Calm Down' Nick Saban Story originally appeared on Athlon Sports. New Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was seen pounding the table in the team's scouting room ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, in which the Cowboys owned the No. 12 pick. Advertisement Following the retirement of franchise great Zack Martin, there was a glaring hole at the right guard spot. Schottenheimer was pleading for players with a high moral character and who loved the game of football, whether they filled that particular void or not. Dallas found what it was looking for to satisfy all of those needs and drafted Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker. Booker was reputed as a leadership legend with the Crimson Tide. Having been a three-year starter, Booker was the heart and soul of the team. The alpha male. The one his teammates turned to in times of uncertainty or doubt. He's also a physically imposing presence in between the lines, with what was - in his words - "dominant" film to prove his first-round pedigree. Advertisement Following his selection, Booker was quoted saying he gets the most out of playing football when he's disrupting the experience for others. "I just love the aggressiveness and the tenacity of the game of football. It's legal assault out there," Booker said. "I love football. The brand of football I play, I make guys not love football anymore." During practices in Tuscaloosa this relentless mentality never wavered, even against his teammates, with Hall of Fame coach Nick Saban looking on. In a pre-draft interview with The Draft Network, Booker remembers Saban having to tell him to pump the brakes during these intense workouts as a collegiate. "I've always had that mentality," Booker said about this menacing approach each day. "That's what allowed me to play so early [into my college career]. I was finishing plays down the field. I was always going that extra mile. There were days where coach Saban asked me to dial it back at practice like, 'Come on Tyler, those are your teammates', Advertisement "He had to remind me ... I rather have to be told to calm down than to be told to pick it up. That's always been my mindset." Like any rookie, Booker may need some time adjusting to the pro game. But if any trait of his is tailored for the highest level of football, it's his relentless aggressiveness and desire to overpower the opposition. Booker is already being praised by his teammates, with many recognizing his unique that are only comparable of those of past Cowboys greats like Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. His quarterback Dak Prescott is liking what he's seeing out of the rookie as well. Advertisement " ... He's doing a hell of a job,' Prescott has said during offseason workouts. 'And you can tell this guy is a football player. Guy has a lot of pride standard in what he does.' Related: Cowboys' Dynamic Duo Key To Passing Game Revival Related: Sam Williams vs. Donovan Ezeiruaku Headlines Cowboys Camp Competition This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys trying to fix $4.3 million former Commander who retired at 25
The Dallas Cowboys went to great lengths to shure up the interior of their offensive line this spring. After the retirement of Zack Martin, Dallas had a Hall-of-Fame size hole in their starting lineup. Before eventually spending the No. 12 overall selection on Alabama guard Tyler Booker, the team went to great measure to ensure they had options. First, the team tendered Brock Hoffman, an exclusive rights free agent who started nine games over the last two seasons for the club. Then they inked Robert Jones, a 17-game starter for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, guaranteeing the team they at the least had capable starters competing for the jobs. The front office wasn't finished though, as they unearthed another potential starting candidate when they signed the surprisingly unretired Saahdiq Charles. Advertisement Charles, after spending four seasons all at or below .500 in Washington, signed with the 4-13 Tennessee Titans in free agency to be their starting right tackle. But after a few missed day due to undisclosed personal reasons, Charles abruptly retired from football. A year later, he was coming out of retirement, gaining his release from Tennessee, and signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys. Rundown Jul 27, 2022; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders tackle Saahdiq Charles (77) walks to the field prior to day one of training camp at The Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Position: Offensive Guard Age: 26 (Week 1 age) Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 322 pounds Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi High School: Madison-Ridgeland College: LSU (Film Study Video) Draft: 2020 Fourth-round pick (No. 108 Overall) Advertisement Acquired: 2025 Free Agency Contract: One-year contract (2025), $1.1 million 2025 Base Salary: $1.1 million Career Earnings: $4.3 million (per Over The Cap) Profile Feb 26, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Louisiana State offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles (OL09) speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Charles started 10 of 11 contests for Washington in 2023. He didn't play particularly well in those starts, but he's certainly capable of stepping in and starting in a pinch if necessary. After playing primarily at right guard in 2022, he was a staple at left guard in 2023, so he'll have the flexibility to fill in for either spot if he's able to make the game-day rosters. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys player profile: No. 77 OL Saahdiq Charles
