Cowboys ‘Tremendous’ Prediction for Damone Clark from Vander Esch

“I think,” LVE says of his Cowboys workout pal Damone Clark, “he’s going to make tremendous strides. … and really make a name for himself.”

FRISCO - If the Dallas Cowboys’ plan with linebacker Damone Clark truly comes to fruition, it will mark one of the fastest accelerations to starter status in recent “America’s Team” memory.

And teammate Leighton Vander Esch says he can definitely envision the “tremendous” arc.

“I think this is going to be huge for Damone,” Vander Esch said. “We’ve been training pretty much the whole offseason …

“Strength-wise, intelligence-wise, he’s just going to get that much better, and settle into his shoes and really make a name for himself.” 

Clark enters his second NFL season riding the fact that his mere presence on the field is notable enough. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft despite predictions from some that his football future was in danger to last spring’s spinal fusion surgery.

But instead, Clark got on the field as a rookie and seems poised to start for Dallas in Year 2. That help alongside Vander Esch might be especially helpful with the team’s decision to have versatile defensive star Micah Parsons focus more on being an edge rusher.

At LSU, Clark was a model of doing things the right way, one of the many reasons Dallas is thrilled to have him on the roster. As coach Mike McCarthy said not long ago, “We’re all excited about him. How can you not (be)? You see the player he was in college coming out and, more importantly, just how he’s been since he’s been here. This young man is here every day. I’m talking, on the weekend, he’s here all the time. He’s ready.”

Team leader Vander Esch, has witnessed the growth and obviously agrees. It’s worth noting, of course, that this is a time for optimism. A year ago, big things were expected of young Jabril Cox. That hasn’t happened yet. And now, Texas rookie DeMarvion Overshown rolls into The Star with the hope he can make an impact right away.

But Damone Clark seems like more than a wish, in the eyes of the Cowboys coaches and of Vander Esch.

“I think,” LVE said of his workout pal Clark, “he’s going to make tremendous strides.”

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