The Big 12 conducted a mass Pro Day this week. And Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance played a prominent role in helping John Rhys Plumlee script his throwing session for the NFL scouts.
Plumlee is the former Central Florida star who transferred to the Orlando school from Ole Miss. He put up impressive numbers at both schools. But he’s not one of the talked quarterbacks eligible for next month’s NFL Draft. That’s why his Pro Day was so important. Enter Lance.
For the first time ever, the Big 12 conducted a mass Pro Day at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. More than 130 prospects, including Plumlee, worked out., giving the event the feel of a NFL Scouting Combine, albeit a scaled-down one. The stadium is where the Cowboys play their games in the fall.
Plumlee and Lance have worked out together in Dallas this off-season. Lance, of course, probably will be the Cowboys’ second-string quarterback when mini-camp starts. Meanwhile, Plumlee wants some team to give him a chance.
The rookie-to-be worked out Thursday, as Lance held the sheet that detailed all the throws Plumlee would make for the scouts. Rhett Lewis of NFL Network snapped a photo and shared it on X.
Lance vying to be Cowboys QB2, while Plumlee wants NFL chance
Both quarterbacks have something to prove in the coming weeks. Plumlee, of course, wants to be drafted. He is a true, dual-threat quarterback. At Ole Miss, he broke the school’s freshman rushing record with 1,023 yards and 12 touchdowns. Of course, that also was a school record for a quarterback running the ball. He fell back on the depth chart for the next two seasons, then transferred to Central Florida. In his two seasons in Orlando, he threw for 5,838 yards and 34 touchdowns against 19 interceptions. He also added 1,367 rushing yards with 16 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Lance probably has gotten used to living in Dallas. The 49ers used the third pick of the NFL Draft back in 2021 to select the quarterback. But he eventually lost his starting spot because of his ankle injury, coupled with the play of Brock Purdy. In a surprise move, the 49ers traded him to the Cowboys as training camps closed last August.
Both Plumlee and Lance are working out with Jeff Christianson, whose most famous quarterback client is Patrick Mahomes.
And what Lance is doing is impressing Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“The arrow’s really up,” Jones told reporters in regards to Lance. “He’s exceeded expectations as a person, as a worker.”
The Cowboys owner added “he’s very much what we had planned on, hoped. When we gave the pick, we knew we would be paying the bonus right now. That was a part of the same decision. That’s been reinforced by what he’s been with the team and the person he is, potentially the player.”
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