3 Cowboys Who Are Already Blowing Us Away at Training Camp
3. Mazi Smith
A lot of pressure was put on Mazi Smith's shoulders when the Cowboys used the 26th overall pick to select him back in April. Fortunately, the massive defensive tackle hasn't crumbled under the pressure in training camp.
If anything, the former Michigan product is thriving under the spotlight.
It didn't take long for Smith to grab headlines at camp. After the first padded practice, the 22-year-old told reporters that you'll never catch him trash-talking because he just enjoys hitting people more than the game of football itself.
Mazi Smith on first day of padded practice for #Cowboys and why you won’t ever see him trash talking:
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) July 31, 2023
“I don’t do no talking. Nah, I’m trying to hit you. I don’t got nothing to say.
“I don’t even like football. I like hitting people.” pic.twitter.com/5YYQiK5qRG
Smith continuing to make waves is necessary if the Cowboys want their defense to take the next step. While they're great at defending the pass, they allowed the 11th-most rushing yards per game (124.4) in 2022, as well as the 17th-most yards per carry (4.4).
Getting better as a team at stopping the run will help get Prescott and the offense back on the field more often. In other words, Smith's progress is one of the keys to any potential championship aspirations.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 323 lbs, Smith is the perfect anchor to stick in the middle of the defensive line. He's handled offensive linemen like Tyler Smith and Tyron Smith well enough in practice, so it'll be interesting to see if that success translates to a preseason game.
As a first-round pick, Mazi Smith is basically a lock to make the 53-man roster. However, his best shot at earning a starting job is to continue making waves just as he has thus far.