Dallas Cowboys: 5 Small-school draft prospects you need to know

Of all the prospects we’ll discuss in this article, Ryan Jones from East Carolina is probably the most legitimate and logical option for the Dallas Cowboys. He plays the tight end position but he’s not necessarily a true in-line blocking tight end like Michael Mayer. He is built more like H-back similar to Delanie Walker formerly of the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans.

Jones was listed at East Carolina at 6’3″ but he is closer to 6’2″ 247lbs. He was a transfer from the University of Oklahoma but wanted a more prominent role in the offense. Well, at ECU, he got exactly what he asked for. He was able to gain 400+ receiving yards in both seasons at East Carolina. Not overly impressive results but numbers were hard to come by when you are playing in the same offense with Keaton Mitchell.

When he is running routes down the field, he looks like a more compact wide receiver hauling in receptions. He is a natural pass catcher but not sure what type of blocker he would be. I can envision a world where Mike McCarthy lines him up as a full back on some plays and even out wide in the slot position. To me, he’s a true weapon where his potential hasn’t been scratched.

His athletic testing results are presented by ESPN.com. With a 4.7 40-yard dash, I’m not looking for him to torch anyone down the sideline. However, I would expect that he would be able to do most of his damage on underneath routes. In a west coast offense, there will be plenty of opportunities for Dak Prescott to throw quick strikes and check the ball down. If Jones is playing the H-back position like Richard Rodgers, he’ll get plenty of opportunities to show his abilities.