It's been 28 weeks since the Dallas Cowboys last suited up in pads. The team has landed in Oxnard, California, to begin training camp on Tuesday. That is where, for the first time since the end of the 2024 NFL season, fans and coaches get a better perspective of their football team.
Football in pads is far different than football in shorts. Training camp gives players an opportunity to show coaches not only that they deserve to be on the team, but also how capable they are in different situations. With injuries and scheme changes heading into the season, snaps are there for the taking. These players in particular have a lot to prove when the pads come on.
FB Hunter Luepke
Often a forgotten position, the recent shift to a more balanced run-pass split will see the return of fullbacks to relevancy. Few teams, like the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, have reaped the rewards of fielding the bigger backs, and with Dallas' offensive focus being more on the run game than of late, they look to join the group.
Hunter Luepke joined the Cowboys back in 2023 as an undrafted free agent and has under 500 offensive snaps to his name. While his 2024 snap count more than doubled that of his rookie season, being in a pass-dominated offense held him back from being used to his full potential.
The big back is primarily used to block or as a misdirection piece, but can be an effective option on play actions. The North Dakota product has been effective when used as a primary receiver on run fakes and has shown he is better than expected as a ball carrier.
It remains to be seen if Luepke is battling for a spot on the roster or to be on the field with other tight ends. More heavy sets are coming in 2025, and the fullback should set a career-high mark for offensive snaps in a season. How he fares in training camp could influence how many balls head his way early in the year, especially with all the mouths to feed on the offense.
DB Israel Mukuamu
The Cowboys have three defensive backs who could miss Week 1 of the regular season. The hole left in the slot with the departure of Jourdan Lewis is a major concern for Dallas. The hope is that the answer lies in the 2021 sixth-rounder, Israel Mukuamu.
While heavily relied on for special teams, the 6'4" defensive back could be what the team needs to cover the middle of the field. With a six-inch height advantage over Lewis, the belief is that the former corner-turned-safety can be a reliable option in coverage, while playing strong against the run.
Mukuamu had a career-high 200 defensive snaps last season, compared to Lewis' 872. There is a significant opportunity to be in the rotation as a box safety or slot corner, and possibly start there at the beginning of the year while other corners rehab from injuries.
He hasn't had much of a role on the defense thus far, but the South Carolina product played his part in preventing the New York Giants' comeback in Week 13. He hasn't been consistent enough to garner more snaps yet, but it's possible that more opportunities after an impressive training camp can get positive momentum rolling for him.
RB Jaydon Blue
The Cowboys' running back room is a messy one. The departure of Rico Dowdle was filled with two "prove it" free agent signings and two late draft picks. The biggest name of them all is fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue.
Rarely is a day-three draft pick expected to have an immediate impact, but running back is an exception, and Dallas' lack of proven talent makes them desperate to make it work out. A great start is to make a positive impression on the coaching staff early, but it seems concerns were raised so far.
After being called "borderline lazy" by Cowboys coaches, competing for a role on the offense will be an uphill battle. Blue doesn't have a draft or star pedigree to make up for a lazy attitude, and instead will need to fight to prove people wrong.
The positive is that training camp is the perfect place to do that. It's something his running backs coach from Texas, Tashard Choice, said made him stand out and succeed this past season. Having a positive attitude, working hard, and sharpening little details to improve. Despite many backs being ahead of him on the depth chart throughout his tenure as a Longhorn, Blue finished strong.
Training camp isn't the end all be all, but it is the key to getting a shot early in the season. Blue, Mukuamu, and Luepke are all fighting to have a larger role on the team, and all have competition ahead of them. This is the time for them to prove to the coaching staff they deserve the opportunity. Then, it's up to them once again to continue their success during the season.
The ball is in their hands.