3 Small-School Steals the Cowboys Can Draft in Late Rounds

1. Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall

One player the Cowboys brought in for a top-30 visit is Marshall running back Rasheen Ali. He's an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-0 and 209 pounds. He also had a lot of success on the ground with 1,401 yards rushing in 2021 and 1,135 in 2023. He also scored 38 rushing touchdowns in those two years.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to put up elite numbers in 2022 due to an injury and then as he was garnering attention during the draft process, he suffered another setback.

Ali had to pull out of the Senior Bowl when he tore a biceps tendon. The expectation is that he will be cleared to play by July but that was the worst time for him to get sidelined. His name lost a lot of buzz surrounding it but that could be a good thing for the Cowboys.

With Tony Pollard leaving, they need a replacement and Ali fits the bill. In addition to his skill as a runner, he had 75 receptions for 557 yards and three touchdowns. He's not a former receiver as Pollard was but he's more than capable of doing damage out of the backfield as a pass-catcher.

Even if they add a running back on Day 2, the Cowboys should consider Ali if he's on the board for one of their final picks. There's no one on the roster currently that should be a lock for a spot at running back so the more talent they add, the better.

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