Cowboys Camp: Jabril Cox vs. DeMarvion Overshown for Snaps?

"Dominating''? "Starting''? "Snaps''? The outspoken DeMarvon Overshown has come right out and stated his aim. Jabril Cox takes a slightly different approach. But the goals at Cowboys camp in Oxnard are essentially the same.

OXNARD, Calif. - The Dallas Cowboys know what they have in "linebacker'' Micah Parsons; he's much more than a linebacker. Some of the same applies to Leighton Vander Esch, too, as he hints to CowboysSI.com that he's also a movable chess piece in coordinator Dan Quinn's defense. Meanwhile, it's assumed that young Damone Clark has a leg up on a starting job ...

Meaning two more relative youngsters, DeMarvion Overshown and Jabril Cox, are engaging in a camp battle for snaps ... and maybe for something more than that.

"I'm going for it," the rookie Overshown said of a spot on the 53-man roster that figures to be driven by special-teams work. "Our linebacker room is close, but at the end of the day we all know what we gotta do to make the team better and that's competing with each other. It's our job to keep the coaches questioning every day who the guy is for the job."

Meanwhile, third-year man Cox, who has battled injuries to get back on the field, said, "I got a lot of people looking up to me and depending on me - especially myself. I took (my rehab) personally. ... I want to be another tool piece for DQ.''

Overshown, 22, the former Texas Longhorn and 2023 third-round pick, has talked of "dominating'' ... and that seems a ways off. But Dallas coach Mike McCarthy is already a fan of Overshown.

“When you look at special teams, there’s a young man, he gets it. He’s made an impression right away in the offseason program,” McCarthy said. “When the special teams coaches, when we get into the personnel meetings and he’s one of the first guys you talk about, that’s what you’re looking for. And he’s done a really good job.”

Cox, 25, also knows that special teams will be key to him making an impression here, saying ....."It's important. That's really the first thing you get to do when you come to the NFL. It's 'the second part of defense.''

Cox' issue has in large part been about injury rehab. The 2021 fourth-round pick took the field late in the season, made an impression when he stopped New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones short on a third-and-goal run, but two games later got hurt himself, missing the rest of the season with an ACL injury. Last year, Cox played on special teams, but not much more than that.

"Dominating''? "Starting''? "Snaps''? The outspoken Overshown has come right out and stated his aim. Cox takes a slightly different approach, saying, "I'll let you know about my goals for the season when it's all over. I don't want to jinx it right now.''

A bit of a difference in their approach ... but two paths toward similar goals.

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