There’s a new fan favorite at AT&T Stadium. He’s Deuce Vaughn, who is all of 5-foot-5. He dashed and darted past Jaguars to give the Cowboys plenty of highlights from Saturday’s preseason opener.
Who cares if Dallas lost, 28-23. Results are meaningless in preseason. However, you can find favorite players amongst the rookie class. Fans screamed his name — Deeuuuccee — in much the same way they did back in the classic 1990s when fullback Daryl Johnston got a carry. Remember when he was serenaded with Mooooose calls?
Vaughn is the All-American, all-purpose back from Kansas State who played his high school football outside Austin, Texas. His story already was a sentimental one. His dad, Chris Vaughn, is the Cowboys assistant director for college scouting. Because of his lack of size, the Cowboys picked him up in the sixth round. He’s been spinning and sprinting his way past his own defenders at training camp in Oxnard, Calif. On Saturday, fans got a glimpse.
“It’s hard to put into words, man,” Deuce Vaughn told reporters in post game. “I can’t take all of the credit, all of those guys up front were blocking their butts off all game. To get in the end zone in the first preseason game, it’s a testament to all of the work that’s been put in since pre-draft.”
Even Dak Prescott was cheering for this rookie RB
Vaughn added that the game did mean more. Because of his small stature, he needs to be twice as good to get attention,
“Just that I belong,” he said. “I feel like that’s the biggest thing for me coming in, just proving the people that believe in me right. It doesn’t stop now. We go back to work Monday and into the next preseason game.”
Dak Prescott was so excited when Vaughn scored that the quarterback ran down the sidelines, waving his arms. We’ve got the highlight.
Deuce Vaughn led Cowboys rushers with 50 yards
And Deuce Vaughn showed off all his wiggling skills in the second half when he carried the ball eight times for 50 yards. He’s got such a low center of gravity that defenders can’t get a good lunge at him. Vaughn can plant and slide, making defenders look foolish. Or, he can use his speed and hit the hole. He has all the moves.
This probably is his best highlight:
Fox Sports personality Skip Bayless, a long-time Cowboys fan, gushed all over the Dallas rookie. He posted on social media:
“As I said from the moment they stole him in the 6th round … Deuce will be loose in Dallas this year. Dynamite in a small package. Deuce Vaughn: new Cowboy catalyst.”
And Vaughn received high praise from coach Mike McCarthy, who rested the Cowboys starters, including Tony Pollard.
“He rolled in there and ran conceptually, everything that the other guys ran, too,” McCarthy said. “I think that speaks volumes about him. I thought he had a heck of a night. Great introduction to the NFL.”
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