Dallas Cowboys sign CFL’s Top Returner Quincy McDuffie
The Dallas Cowboys signed wide receiver/returner Quincy McDuffie to a futures contract on Tuesday. Will he overtake Lucky Whitehead?
The Super Bowl hasn’t even been played yet and the Dallas Cowboys are already making moves to help them get to the big dance next season.
On Tuesday, the Cowboys worked out six players according to ESPN.com. Those names included quarterback Garrett Gilbert, tight end Andy McCleneghen and four free agent wide receivers: Brian Burnham, Uzoma Nwachakwu, Corey Washington and Quincy McDuffie. Only Nwachakwu and McDuffie were signed to futures contracts.
As the Cowboys could use a spark on their special teams unit, McDuffie is an especially interesting add for Dallas. The 5-10, 178 pounds speedster, who was a track star in high school, scored a total of six touchdowns on kickoff returns in his four years at Central Florida, averaging 27.8 yards per return.
During his senior season with the Knights, McDuffie average a whopping 34.2 yards per return and scored three of those special teams touchdowns. Two of those returns for scores came in the same game against Marshall. McDuffie would later be named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year.
As a receiver, McDuffie racked up at total of 92 receptions for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns while at UCF.
After a very brief stint with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent back in 2013, McDuffie has spent the last three seasons playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL). After spending his first two years with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, last season he played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
McDuffie led the CFL averaging 27.7 yards per kick return in 2016. According to CFL.ca, the 26-year old had 42 kickoff returns for 1,165 yards and two scores. McDuffie also had 22 punt returns for 236 yards, averaging 10.7 yards per.
In 13 games for the Bombers last season, McDuffie also caught 23 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. His best game came against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in early September, when he recorded seven receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. Talk about a speedy deep threat, watch this.
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Dallas could surely use some help in the return game. Last season, the Cowboys ranked 23rd in return average with 20.5 yards per kickoff and 7.1 yards per punt.
Former 2015 undrafted wide receiver out of Florida Atlantic, Lucky Whitehead, was seen as the Cowboys primary returner. But three fumbles last season combined with a violation of team rules that had him riding the pine in Week 14 doesn’t bode well for the 24-year old’s future in Dallas.