Former Texas Longhorns linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is ready for August.
Yes, the current Dallas Cowboys' standout will have to endure a few more months of waiting, plus the free agency period, the NFL draft and offseason workouts, but once practice begins, he's set to bring back the Agent Zero feel.
After all, this might as well be his rookie year, too.
Drafted in the third round last April, Overshown was expected to compete for starting reps opposite Leighton Vander Esch before a torn ACL during the preseason sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Heading into Year 2, Overshown is ready to compete. Mentally, he's prepared like a seasoned vet despite never playing a down of professional football. Now, it's all about being full-go for training camp.
"Everything is going good. We're starting to move around," Overshown told DallasCowboys.com during a fan event at Academy Sports + Outdoors in north Frisco. "We're ahead of the curve. It's just a process.
"This isn't what my rookie year was supposed to be, but you get up and you do it every day."
During meetings last week in Indianapolis, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters Overshown and All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs were on pace to be medically cleared for drills beginning in July. During the recovery process, Overshwon grew close with Diggs, plus fellow ailing rookies John Stephens Jr. and David Durden.
"All of those guys, they make it so much easier," Overshown said. "It's days where you can find yourself in a dark place, but you get there and you're laughing and cutting up with those guys and seeing that they're going through the same process. I just see this as a blessing in disguise. It will make me a better football player, a better teammate, a better man and all of that in general."
One of the selling points for Dallas to select Overshown with the No. 90 pick was his work ethic. Longhorn coaches praised the consistency of No. 0 setting the tone in practice, which carried over to newcomers joining the roster under Steve Sarkisian.
Overshown, who earned first-team All-Big 12 status during his final season with the Longhorns, called the injury a 'blessing in disguise' and mentioned he's hungrier than ever to compete.
"All of the excitement that was built up in year one is still in there. It's ready to be unleashed on people," said Overshown. "The glimpse that y'all got last year, you should expect 10 times more than that. This ACL injury will not be an excuse for anything going into the season at all. I'm gonna be ready to play and [fans] should expect that."
Fully healthy, Overshown believes he could start next season. Perhaps that's true, given the Cowboys' salary cap space and other needs. And when full-go, Overshown fits what Dallas was looking for last offseason.
While some players regress after a gruesome injury, Overshown feels like the injury will 'unlock' a new version of his play style.
"This ain't no setback in my career," Overshown said. "This is me being ready so I can attack the season how I was supposed to last year."
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