The Dallas Cowboys running back no one is talking about

With all the talk surrounding Ezekiel Elliott as the Dallas Cowboys most important player, this roster bubble running back has been quietly impressing.

There is no doubt who sits at the top of the Dallas Cowboys running back depth chart these days. In fact, many view starting running back Ezekiel Elliott as the most important player on the Cowboys roster.

But Elliott did miss six games last season due to a suspension. And when he was out, the Cowboys struggled. Although his primary backup, Alfred Morris, did an admirable job filling in, no one could really replace Zeke.

With the 29-year old Morris currently a free agent, the pecking order behind Elliott on the depth chart is still being settled. Last year, third-year running back Rod Smith had a bit of a breakout performance. Smith rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He also caught 19 passes for 202 yards and two more scores.

Smith enters training camp as Elliott’s primary backup. But beyond these two, there will be a battle for third. Many have already given the job to the Cowboys 2018 seventh rounder, Alabama star rusher Bo Scarbrough.

A bit of a beast in college, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound hammer could be an effective short yardage back in Dallas. But Scarbrough has an extensive injury history and hasn’t played special teams before.

Also competing for a spot on the running back depth chart is Darius Jackson. A former sixth-round pick by the Cowboys back in 2016, Jackson impressed fans during his rookie year but was buried on the depth chart. In December, Dallas released him likely wanting to place him on their practice squad.

Instead, the Cleveland Browns claimed Jackson off waivers. But a knee injury hindered him from playing any meaningful snaps for the Browns and they ended up releasing him in May. The Cowboys re-signed Jackson later that month.

But the one real wildcard among this running back group is Trey Williams. The former Texas A&M star went undrafted back in 2015. The Cowboys actually picked him up off the Washington Redskins practice squad towards the end of his rookie season. But he would spend less than a month in Dallas before being waived.

Since then, Williams has bounced around the league playing for the New England Patriots, the Indianapolis Colts, the Miami Dolphins, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also had a stint with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Last November, Williams was signed to the Cowboys practice squad. He was then inked to a reserve/future contract in January. Williams has been impressive this offseason as both a running back and on special teams. Showing a good combination of his 4.49 speed and power at only 5-foot-7, 200 pounds, the native of Houston appears to have an edge over both Jackson and Scarbrough.

Here’s what former NFL scout and current football analyst for DallasCowboys.com Bryan Broaddus had to say about the team’s current running back battle behind Elliott.

"“I think it’s going to be an uphill battle for [Darius] Jackson to make the squad. At this point he doesn’t look better than Trey Williams, who is also battling for a spot on the roster. If Scarborough can develop on special teams he will have a great shot to make the club. If he’s just serviceable as a player and Williams plays better all around, they could have an interesting decision.”"

Trey Williams was able to rack up 1,343 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns during his three seasons as an Aggie. In the NFL, he only has two rushing attempts in the regular season. But Williams was a kick returner in college. And it’s his ability to play special teams that could be his avenue to securing a roster spot over other, much more well-known running backs in Dallas.