Cowboys draft ex-Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers

The Dallas Cowboys selected former Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

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The Dallas Cowboys selected former Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Gathers, 22, played power forward for the Bears for four years before opting to try football professionally. At 6'7", 290, Gathers will play tight end in the NFL.

There is a precedent for his success, with former college basketball players Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham both making successful transitions to the tight end spot as pros. Gathers was an All-American and never missed a game for the Bears.

Gathers has not played football since middle school. He will have the opportunity to succeed Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.