Dallas Cowboys Preseason Player to Watch: Jameill Showers
By Ray Valverde
With preseason kicking off this week, there will be plenty of position battles. Strong safety Jameill Showers will be an interesting name to look out for.
Dallas Cowboys strong safety Jameill Showers was born in the small West Texas town of Alpine, but his football career blossomed in Killeen, TX. He was an honorable mention All-State selection his junior year at Shoemaker High School, but missed his senior season due to injury.
Showers selected Texas A&M but never had a starting opportunity. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill started Showers freshman year and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel won the job the following year.
Showers eventually transferred to UTEP, where he would finally get his chance to start. Two efficient seasons weren’t enough for Jameill to get drafted. Showers ultimately signed as undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.
Former quarterback Tony Romo had a firm grip on the starting job in Dallas when Showers entered the league. The Cowboys merely wanted to have some depth heading into the 2015 preseason.
It wasn’t until the 2016 preseason where there was light shed on Showers’ NFL career. Romo went down against the Seahawks and suddenly there was an open battle for the starting job.
Yet once again the door was slammed on Showers when rookie quarterback Dak Prescott took hold of number one on the depth chart and never let go.
Showers has shown resilience before and he wasn’t letting his NFL dream escape his grasp so easily. He had missed his entire senior year in high school due to injury and found his way on to a Division-I roster.
Showers found himself the odd man out and rode the bench for two years at Texas A&M. Still, he persevered and became QB number one at UTEP.
Now, faced with the same challenges, Showers has switched positions. He will be dawning 28 made famous by Dallas Cowboys legend Darren Woodson.
A switch that is extremely rare, especially in today’s NFL. Of course there are quarterbacks that switch to wide receivers: Terrelle Pryor, Cole Beasley, Eric Crouch, just to name a few.
Switching from quarterback to safety is unheard of. There have even been NFL quarterbacks that have refused a position switch, insisting they are an NFL quarterback (Tim Tebow).
Showers willingly accepts the challenge and takes the change in stride. It’s hard to recall a quarterback running down the field on punt coverage, also making the tackle.
The Cowboys seem to have some faith in Showers as well, considering the jersey number he was given (#28).
Whether or not Showers makes the team is up to Head Coach Jason Garrett and his staff. But remember when you’re watching the preseason games to find Jameill Showers.
It’s not everyday you find a guy willing to do anything and everything he can for the Star. Showers is the definition of team player and should be recognized for the true Texan that he is, born and bred.
Next: Three Dallas Cowboys poised for a breakout season
The Dallas Cowboys seem to be lacking character lately with so many off the field issues. Jameill Showers can shed some positive light in the preseason while he gives his all trying to earn a spot on the team.