Cowboys Draft: 'Next Adrian Peterson' - Notre Dame's Audric Estime - to Dallas?
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are expected to add at least one running back to the roster this offseason. How about if they draft a kid who compares himself to the legendary Adrian Peterson?
Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle are both expected to hit the open market this month when free agency kicks off on March 13, and Dallas can either add a big name back in free agency or save some money and look to the draft.
Notre Dame's Audric Estime is projected to be a fourth-round pick by most draft experts, and the Cowboys might be interested in the low-risk, high-reward selection.
In Estime's last season at Notre Dame, he registered career highs with 1,483 yards and 18 touchdowns while catching 17 passes for 147 yards.
The New Jersey native declared early for the draft and left Notre Dame with a year of eligibility left. When asked this week about his NFL comparison, he cited a Texas native.
“I’d say Adrian Peterson," Estime said at the Combine this week. "The reason is because he’s a bigger guy, a physical guy and he runs like he has bills to pay, and that’s how I run. He’s also a guy who moves like a smaller back. He’s very light on his feet. He’s quick and fast. He can run routes. He can pass protect. He can do it all. That’s why I model my game after him.”
Estime is 5-11, 227. "AD'' played at 6-1, 217. So "big'' is relative. But "big enough'' sure works.
Meanwhile, after he met with the Cowboys, Estime was impressed.
“I just like the energy the Cowboys had," Estime said. "They are very energetic guys and had smiles on their faces. I’m a guy that is always smiling and they were smiling right back at me. They are a very football-savvy team that knows a lot about football. I’m a guy who always wants to be informed. I feel like in that system I’ll be able to learn every day and maximize my ability.”
