The Landry Hat
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Dallas Cowboys 2017 Rookie Class: Midseason grades

By Steven Mullenax

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Taco Charlton #97 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his sack of quaterback Sean Mannion #13 of the Los Angeles Rams during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Taco Charlton #97 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his sack of quaterback Sean Mannion #13 of the Los Angeles Rams during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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BOULDER, CO – NOVEMBER 26: Defensive back Chidobe Awuzie #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes tackles punt returner Demari Simpkins #17 of the Utah Utes on a punt return during the fourth quarter at Folsom Field on November 26, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Utah 27-22 and win the Pac-12 South. The Buffaloes will play Washington next week in the Pac-12 Championship. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO – NOVEMBER 26: Defensive back Chidobe Awuzie #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes tackles punt returner Demari Simpkins #17 of the Utah Utes on a punt return during the fourth quarter at Folsom Field on November 26, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Utah 27-22 and win the Pac-12 South. The Buffaloes will play Washington next week in the Pac-12 Championship. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

CHIDOBE AWUZIE, DB. D. . 2017. Second Round - 60th overall

Often times in the NFL, the greatest ability is availability. Unfortunately, a lingering hamstring injury has limited the Cowboys’ second round selection, Colorado’s Chidobe Awuzie, during training camp, the preseason and, now, into the regular season.

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And the fact Dallas has tried to play Awuzie at both cornerback and safety likely has the rookie’s head spinning the way it did Byron Jones in his first season. The Cowboys love position flex to a fault. And the development of players like Jones and Awuzie is delayed because of it.

But development is the least of Awuzie’s worries. He simply needs to get on the field first. There are some indications “Cheeto” may be able to play this weekend against the Atlanta Falcons. But we’ve heard that song and dance before.

The 22-year old defensive back hasn’t played since Week Five. In fact, this high draft pick has played in just three games so far, recording six total tackles on a combined 53 defensive snaps.

At 5-foot-11, 202 pounds, Awuzie is a good-sized defensive back who played corner, safety and linebacker in college. Dallas was likely hoping to use the rookie to help lock down opposing tight ends. But the fact he can’t get on the field hurts his midseason grade as well as any prediction of his future performance in year one.

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