Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn Plan: 'Hide Behind The O-Line!'

Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn small in stature, but the former Kansas State star knows how to use that to his advantage.

The Dallas Cowboys have a full running back room after drafting Deuce Vaughn out of Kansas State. With four backs on the roster, training camp will be interesting.

But before that, the Cowboys are hosting their rookie minicamp with Vaughn front and center. Much has been made about his diminutive stature (5-5) but Deuce is no stranger to this kind of talk and has used his size to his advantage.

But how?

"I feel like over time, I've been able to come into one with my body," Vaughn said. "Just understanding how to use my leverage not only in the open field but in blocking. Being able to hide behind O-linemen, being able to use those guys to my advantage.

"Just gaining little things over time as I've played this game."

There are many detractors of Vaughn's ability to translate his college production (3,604 rushing yards, 34 touchdowns, 1,280 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns in three college seasons) to the NFL, but there has been a running back of similar size made a decent career out of the NFL.

Vaughn has been likened to former Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints back Darren Sproles, who managed to play 14 seasons in the NFL.

While Sproles never had a 1,000+ yard rushing season, it was his ability to pick up yards either through the air or on the ground when in open space in crucial moments that made him a value on an NFL roster. 

Sproles actually had more receiving yards in the NFL (4,840) than rushing yards (3,552), and in Vaughn's case, his ability to be a duel threat could be a useful weapon for Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott to utilize.

As it happens, Sproles long ago befriended his fellow K-State product. And they’ve compared notes on how this can work.

So, while there are some who think Vaughn's size will hinder him in the NFL, the newest addition to the Cowboys' running back room is taking it in his stride and is no doubt looking forward to proving people wrong. … sometimes by “hiding” in plain sight.

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