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Cowboys Move From 'Underwear Olympics' To No. 1 Position Battle To Watch In Oxnard

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 8:53 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys will be in Oxnard in just a matter of weeks, with Brian Schottenheimer set to lead his first-ever training camp as head coach.

With the offseason brimming with positivity, training camp is where that can continue, or the same old questions might arise.

But there are some things to look for and to see how it progresses, and for me, one position takes precedence over the rest - running back (corner a good shout too).

Do we remember last year when Ezekiel Elliott entered camp as the starter with Rico Dowdle behind him? Yeah, that wasn't ideal. Most knew it wouldn't work, and it didn't with Dowdle being handed the keys midway through the season en route to rushing for over 1,000 yards.

But this time, the vibe is different.

Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams loom as the top two on the depth chart, much to the dislike of some fans and media personalities alike, but we aren't about to cast them aside...yet.

We want to see how they fare in Oxnard.

Sanders has flashed at the Underwear Olympics (as our Mike Fisher and Michael Irvin combined to call offseason practices so long ago) at The Star, but once the pads come on, it could be a different story. Williams, along with Jaydon Blue, Deuce Vaughn, and Phil Mafah, make up the room.

Who will stand out from that bunch?

Williams possesses all the "Schottenheimer traits" needed, Deuce, we feel, is swimming against the tide, with Blue and his blistering speed and pass-catching ability set to be featured in Oxnard, while Mafah looms as a bit of an unknown right now.

But that is what training camp is for - to see who separates themselves.

We count five running backs, and we aren't sure the Cowboys will take all five into the season (they could, but unlikely), which means there is a real battle for spots.

How will the depth chart shake out?

Right now, your guess is as good as mine.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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