The Dallas Cowboys are a week into training camp, and players are already starting to make names for themselves for the work they're putting in on the practice field.
America's Team is looking to bounce back from a subpar finish to their 2024 campaign. The Cowboys need for players to step up on both sides of the ball, and one newcomer has caught the attention of first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
With the first preseason matchup of the fall on the horizon, the rookie rusher has a chance to make a major statement now that he is firmly on the radar of Dallas' leader on the sidelines.
Cowboys RB Phil Mafah Suddenly Has Head Coach's Attention at Camp
There were calls for the Cowboys to target a running back in the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. As we all know, that didn't happen. Instead, Dallas selected a pair of running backs during Day 3.
Both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah have had their moments thus far in camp, but it was the former Clemson Tigers standout who made an impression on Schottenheimer with his play in the team's first practice session of training camp in pads.
"Phil Mafah, I'm starting to feel him."
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) July 28, 2025
- Brian Schottenheimer on the rookie RB after the #Cowboys first padded practice of 2025 #trainingcamp
How the depth chart at the running back position shakes out is one of the more interesting battles to follow during Cowboys training camp. Mafah is likely in direct competition with veteran Deuce Vaughn for a reserve role in the running back room. Any moments he can have in the coming weeks where his play stands out enough for Schottenheimer to single him out will only help the former ACC star's cause as he looks to crack the final roster in Dallas.
Earlier this offseason, Schottenheimer discussed the importance of seeing what running backs can do once the pads are on. In his eyes, this is a true indicator of what they're capable of when evaluating talent at that position.
"Running around out there in shorts is a little bit different than running through 330-pound defensive linemen who are keeping their arms out and linebackers filling holes and linebackers are blitzing through the A gap and things like that," Schottenheimer said following Day 3 of the NFL Draft, via Garrett Podell of CBS Sports.
With Mafah making an impression on his head coach following the team's first practice in pads, he appears to be on his way to proving he is too valuable not to be on this roster coming out of training camp.