Cowboys Draft: Will Jerry (Finally) Call a Hog?

FRISCO – As a tried, true and triumphant Razorback, Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones likes to “Name the Hogs.” However in relation to the NFL Draft, surprisingly, he not often calls the identify of a Hog.

Jerry celebrating with Hogs

Jerry & Gene

Former Hog Felix Jones

Jones, who performed on Arkansas’ 1964 Nationwide Championship group, was a driving power in bringing the annual Texas A&M-Arkansas sport to AT&T Stadium. His spouse, Gene, was Miss Arkansas 1960. His son – group vice chairman Stephen – graduated from Fayetteville and his grandson, John Stephen, is a backup quarterback on Arkansas’ group.

His blood strains and his ardour nonetheless run deep, evidenced by him even “Calling the Hogs” on his common radio present in Dallas or throughout visits again to Arkansas.

However, opposite to public opinion, Jones has proven no bias towards his faculty when assembling Cowboys rosters. The truth is, simply the alternative.

Counting supplemental drafts, Jones’ Cowboys since 1989 have drafted 298 gamers. Precisely one among them performed at Arkansas: working again Felix Jones, taken twenty second total in 2008. Against this, they’ve drafted two gamers from Ball State, three from East Carolina, 4 from Nebraska, 5 from Boise State, six from Notre Dame and 7 from LSU.

Felix Jones teased Jerry’s funding, scoring a landing on his first NFL carry and first kickoff return earlier than tearing a hamstring halfway by his rookie season and by no means speeding for greater than 800 yards throughout an underwhelming five-year profession.

If issues fall proper Thursday, it could be time for Jerry to once more name on his roots.

To interchange the departed Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson, the Cowboys are on the lookout for depth at receiver. At Tuesday’s pre-draft press convention at The Star, coach Mike McCarthy instructed they could be in luck.

“I believe historically the vast receiver group has been very deep,” he mentioned. “And that appears to carry true once more this yr.”

So deep, in reality, that Arkansas’ Treylon Burks might nonetheless be obtainable when the Cowboys are on the clock at No. 24. In a number of mock drafts, gifted receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave (Ohio State), Drake London (USC), Jameson Williams (Alabama), Jahan Dotson (Penn State) and George Pickens (Georgia) have been taken within the first 23 picks.

Jerry traded as much as seize a receiver in 2010 (Dez Bryant) and has said he is keen to commerce up once more. However is Burks price it?

Burks vs. ‘Bama

Treylon Burks

Excessive on this Hog?

For what he lacks in uncooked velocity, the 6-3, 225-pound Burks makes up for it with a bodily – virtually violent – type. Extra Michael Irvin than CeeDee Lamb, Burks constantly gained 50-50 battles and infrequently shed a number of tackles after the catch.

As a receiver the final two seasons, he produced greater than 100 catches, 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns.

He’s additionally harmful in jet sweeps, maybe even a candidate for use in twin threats much like the San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel. At Arkansas Burks carried 38 instances for 222 yards and a landing.

Final season in Arlington – with Jerry watching from his suite – Burks scored on an 85-yard landing catch-and-run.

Was it sufficient for him to be the subsequent Cowboys Hog to be referred to as?