Jalen Tolbert EXCLUSIVE: How 'Country Boy' Prepped for Winning Cowboys Camp

"Fun fact: I'm a country boy," Cowboys receiver Jalen Tolbert says in his 1-on-1 camp visit with CowboysSI.com. "Dad does a lot of farming of corn, watermelon, squash. ...''

OXNARD, Calif. - Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert is full of surprises. 

The second-year player has caught the attention of his coaches in training camp with his smooth route-running, physicality and impressive grabs. Tolbert's improvements better highlight his speed and budding chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott. 

His emergence is a testament to his offseason work, in which he focused on building relationships with Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks.

Tolbert recognized immediately how much he could learn from veteran Cooks, who is in his 10th NFL season.

"I asked (Cooks) everything I could think of," Tolbert told Bri Amaranthus in an exclusive interview. "He's a great leader, teammate and person ... Having him as a veteran guy in the room to take me under his wing is special."

Cooks, the former Oregon State star, invited Tolbert to stay and train with him for a week at his home in Oregon. The two became fast friends, who talk on the phone every day. 

"Seeing the way that he carries himself and how he takes care of his body, it shows why he's been so successful,'' Tolbert said.

Tolbert also raves about Lamb's work ethic, calling the Cowboys' offense "a threat" this season. Dallas is "fine-tuning details" as coach Mike McCarthy takes over as play-caller for the departed Kellen Moore. 

The former South Alabama star Tolbert has one more thing up his sleeve. He likes space. Creating space, yes. But also, wide open spaces. Tolbert's family has a farm in Alabama with horses, goats and crops.

"Fun fact: I'm a country boy," Tolbert says. "Dad does a lot of farming of corn, watermelon, squash."

Together, he and his dad pick peas and peel them. 

Tolbert looks to put a rough rookie season behind him and he's off to a great start by making a statement in training camp as he works to secure the No. 4 wideout job.

"I try to take it with a grain of salt,'' he said of the highs and lows of the job. "Tomorrow is a new day."

The 2023 Dallas squad hopes to improve on a 12-5 campaign and usurp the Philadelphia Eagles as NFC East Division champions. 

Follow Bri Amaranthus on Twitter and Instagram

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