Latest news with #DeuceVaughn
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nepo baby or late bloomer? Former 6th rounder has front office, Cowboys coaching connect
The football world wipe a falling tear from their collective eye when Deuce Vaughn became a National Football Leaguer. Late into Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft, the yet-to-be selected diminutive backfield threat received a call from his dad. Only this wasn't a call to tell him to keep his head up. Chris Vaughn works in the front office of the Dallas Cowboys and was calling to tell his son he was being selected and brought back to North Texas. The Cowboys are a family owned and operated franchise, so nepotism is hardly looked at as a negative experience. But following that emotional moment that was shared far and wide across the football universe, things haven't gone that well for Vaughn. He didn't mesh well with the run game that head coach Mike McCarthy was running. He appeared in just seven games as a rookie, with a woeful 1.7 yards per carry. Appearing in seven games again his second year, his average blossomed to a respectable 4.1 yards a carry, but his impact was still minimal. With Brian Schottenheimer moving up to the head coach role, he brought in changes to the staff. Klayton Adams was brought in from Arizona to be the new OC, and Vaughn's former college OC Conor Riley was hired as the new OL coach. The changes seem to have suited Vaughn, as he was the teams most impressive back through the first few days of training camp. A hamstring injury halted that though, and potentially threatens Vaughn's chances to make the 53-man roster. Rundown Position: Running Back Age: 24 Height: 5-foot-5 Weight: 179 pounds Hometown: Fayetteville, AR High School: Cedar Ridge (TX) College: Kansas State (College Highlights) Draft: 2023 Sixth Round (No. 212 Overall) Acquired: 2023 draft Contract: Four-year contract (2023), $4 million 2025 Base Salary: $1 million, no guarantees Career Earnings: $1.8 million (per Over The Cap) Profile Vaughn backed up several players last year and though Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle are no longer in town, the team signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, as well as drafted Jaydon Blue in the fifth round. Along with an apparent renewed commitment to fullback Hunter Luepke, it makes for a difficult proposition for Vaughn to remain with the team on the 53-man roster. He'd need an extraordinary training camp, and that's what he was having until the injury sidelined him. His void was filled by Blue, who began to excel as the pads came on, leaving Vaughn's role a question mark, made more murky by the staff's usage of WR Kavontae Turpin out of the backfield. Vaughn will really need to impress in the preseason to keep his dream of being a meaningful contributor to the Cowboys alive. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
USA Today
24-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Explosive and elusive, RB Deuce Vaughn impressing in Cowboys training camp
Training camp is in full effect and for teams like the Dallas Cowboys, roster spots are on the line. Running back headlines a list of positions the Cowboys hope to fill through open competition and a competitive atmosphere. RB is particularly interesting because Dallas doesn't just have an opening at the starting spot, but the entire RB depth chart is up for grabs here in Oxnard. Deuce Vaughn, a 2023 sixth round draft pick, is one of such RBs fighting for a role in 2025. The 5-foot-6, 176-pound jitterbug is a niche player who has been one of the first to shine in training camp. The Kansas State product has been quick to the hole, explosive out of his cuts and hellbent on getting downfield fast. Through his first two years in the NFL Vaughn has had a tough time getting on the field. His 40 career carries for 110 yards equates to just a 2.8 yards/carry average. His impossibly small build has come with some obvious liabilities that have yet to be overcome and some advantages that have yet to be realized in real game action. In this his third NFL season, he's flashing some of those advantages early in training camp and hoping to continue it through the preseason and onto the final roster in 2025. Vaughn's small stature and frictionless cuts have been on full display. Standing a full foot shorter than many of the lineman in front of him, Vaughn can easy dip below sight lines and navigate with stealth-like precision behind blockers and through holes. It's an image he's flashed in the past before and again here in 2025 it's invigorated his personal fanbase within Cowboys Nation. How Vaughn holds up when pads and contact ramp up is the question everyone's asking. As a college workhorse who ran for over 3,600 yards in his last three seasons, Vaughn has proven he's more than meets the eye. His durability and elusiveness have allowed him to overcome his size limitations in the past and remain his gateway to a meaningful role in the pros. Vaughn comes to training camp on the roster bubble. He has to prove he can be a player in the NFL and that can only come when all the pads come on and the hits are real. But his flashes in shells aren't nothing and they serve as a reminder of what someone like him can bring to the table when given the right role. You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Cutting Deuce Vaughn Projected By Insider In 'Game of Inches'
Cowboys Cutting Deuce Vaughn Projected By Insider In 'Game of Inches' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - It's a numbers game. ... Especially when one of your numbers is " inches.'' The Dallas Cowboys have spent this offseason completely remaking the running back room, saying goodbye to leading rusher Rico Dowdle (who signed with Carolina in free agency) and then taking two levels of "big swings'' of talent acquistion. Advertisement Swing No. 1: Veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders were signed in free agency on the cheap. Both guys have been NFL starters ... but both are also on contracts that make them potentially expendable. Swing No. 2: The Cowboys doubled down on their running back needs in the recent NFL Draft, as both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah were selected and could complement each other nicely, with the 5-9, 195-pound sprinter Blue providing the lighting and the 6-1, 235-pound punisher Mafah providing the thunder behind Dak Prescott in 2025. But that's four new running backs added to the roster. There's still Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis to think about here. We can add fullback Hunter Luepke, too. Will Dallas carry six backs into the 2025 season? No. Advertisement And it is here where we explore the brutal side of the NFL. We all saw Deuce's draft call with his father, Chris, who is a scout for the Cowboys, and that was good for the soul. But entering his third NFL offseason, Deuce has been used sparingly, totaling just 110 yards from 40 attempts in 14 games (zero starts). We have seen Deuce's skills during preseason with his shiftiness on display as he scatters downfield to pick up chink yards, but in the regular season, he falls down the depth chart. As things stand right now, he could be fourth behind Williams, Sanders, and Blue. Plus, Schottenheimer envisions starting roles for Blue and Mafah. Where does that leave Deuce? Advertisement The sensible prediction is that the 5-6 Deuce loses his "game of inches'' and gets cut loose. With Conor Riley, Vaughn's former coach at Kansas State, now Dallas' offensive line coach, maybe that is the thread Deuce needs to hang on to for dear life as things are looking tough for him to stick around in Dallas long-term. Yes, it is only Year 3, so he has two years left on his rookie deal, but it feels that with the selections of Blue and Mafah, coupled with the veteran signings of Sanders and Williams, finding adequate playing time is as hard as ever for Deuce, not to mention Davis, too. Now, we hope that he shows up in camp and explodes to give the coaching staff something to think about, but if not, this NFL journey that started out as a genuine tear-jerker might not have the fairytale ending once envisioned. Advertisement Related: Does Cowboys' Dak Prescott Have An MVP-Type Season In Him For 2025? Related: Cowboys' George Pickens Laughs at Steelers Trade and Reveals One-Word Dallas Prediction Get more Cowboys from the Fish Report here! This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Fan Favorite May Face Brutal Truth On 53-Man Roster
Cowboys Fan Favorite May Face Brutal Truth On 53-Man Roster originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's a story many fans won't be thrilled to hear, but the harsh reality is Deuce Vaughn could be on the verge of not making the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster. Advertisement Why would that disappoint so many NFL fans? Simple. Everyone loves a true underdog, and Deuce Vaughn embodies that in every sense…. quite literally. Standing at just 5-foot-6, 176 pounds, Vaughn is one of the shortest players ever to reach the NFL. And in a position group known for size, strength, and durability, it's a glaring difference. Running backs today are often now built to withstand the NFL's physical demands. OK, maybe Derrick Henry at 6-3 and 245 is an outlier. But look again: The standard bearer at the position is now Saquon Barkley, who at 6-0 and 235 still plays the game with speed and elusiveness. Advertisement He is a prime example of the modern prototype. Vaughn's journey, however, has always been about beating the odds. His draft moment in 2023 captured the hearts of fans everywhere when he received the call from his father, a Cowboys scout, telling him he'd been selected by Dallas. It was a moment that transcended football and reminded everyone why we love this game. But now, as the 2025 season approaches, the reality is setting in: Vaughn's spot on the roster is far from guaranteed. The Cowboys added serious depth to their running back room this offseason. Free-agent signings Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders bolster the top of the depth chart, while the team also invested draft picks in Texas Longhorn Jaydon Blue and Clemson's Phil Mafah during the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement Typically, teams carry four running backs on the 53-man roster, occasionally five, but that's rare. The odds of a fifth back sticking are even slimmer when you consider that Hunter Luepke fills a fullback/running back hybrid role, and KaVontae Turpin sometimes lines up in the backfield as a gadget player out of the slot. And both of them are making this 53-man roster. That means a hard decision is looming. Out of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Deuce Vaughn — someone won't make the cut. Most expect the final roster battle to come down to Deuce Vaughn vs. rookie Phil Mafah. And right now, Mafah looks to have the upper hand. He's younger, bigger, and viewed as a more traditional long-term prospect. Advertisement Meanwhile, Vaughn, despite two years on the roster, has struggled to carve out a consistent role, totaling just 110 yards across his first two seasons. If Vaughn doesn't survive final cuts, his NFL journey isn't necessarily over. Another team in need of depth could take a chance on him. Alternatively, the Cowboys could look to bring him back on the practice squad, keeping the fan-favorite underdog around in some capacity. Either way, the reality is clear: Deuce Vaughn's fight for a roster spot is very real — and it's one Cowboys fans are watching closely. Get more from Hayden Pustejovsky here. Related: Cowboys 'Worst Signing Imaginable' Adds to 90-Man Roster Related: Cowboys Rookie Aims To Be 'Next Great' with Lofty Goal This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Deuce Cut Loose in Cowboys Roster Projection
Deuce Cut Loose in Cowboys Roster Projection originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We are all for feel-good stories around here, but sometimes the harsh reality of professional football hits us right between the eyes, and for Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn, it is a defining next couple of months. Advertisement Yes, we loved the heart-warming video of his father, Chris, a scout for Dallas, calling him on draft day, asking if he wants to come to work with him, and it tugged at the heartstrings. But as we turn for Oxnard after two so-so seasons, Deuce is fighting for his Cowboys life. Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams were signed in free agency, while Brian Schottenheimer drafted speedster Jayfon Blue and bruiser Phil Mafah. To our count, that's five running backs. And the Cowboys aren't likely to take all five into the season, which means someone has to miss out. ESPN's Mike Clay, when projecting the stats for each player in the league, when we get to Dallas and the run game, he has Williams, Sanders, Blue, and Hunter Luepke. Advertisement But no Deuce. Cowboys running backs Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn and Javonte Williams at training Mike Fisher Granted, there's no Mafah either. Both could be on the practice squad, but we get the sense Deuce is fighting a losing battle to make the final roster. Our insider, Mike Fisher, has stated that there isn't anything Vaughn does better than the other backs on the roster, and that makes life incredibly tough. Now, Deuce won't throw in the towel, and we expect to see him dazzle in Oxnard and the preseason games, but when push comes to shove during roster cuts, what will Vaughn's fate be? Clay has his theory, and for us, this feel-good story might not have a fairy tale ending. Related: Cowboys Named Fit for Pro Bowl Safety in Unrealistic Trade Scenario Related: Cowboys 'Worst Signing Imaginable' Adds to 90-Man Roster This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
