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Ej Smith NFL Draft: The Dallas Cowboys recently hosted local prospects as part of their annual pre-draft workout event known as Dallas Day.
The NFL allows teams to invite local players for workouts that do not count toward the league’s official 30-player visit limit.
Texas A&M running back EJ Smith was among the players who attended the workout in Dallas.
The event gives local prospects an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of the coaching staff and team executives.
Smith spent six seasons playing college football at Texas A&M. He mostly played in a backup role during his college career.
Because of his limited starting experience, he is not widely expected to be selected in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Despite that, Smith remains a notable prospect because he is the son of Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith.
His father is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the National Football League and is best known for his legendary career with the Dallas Cowboys.
EJ Smith is now aiming to earn an NFL opportunity, either through the draft or by signing as an undrafted free agent after the draft concludes.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he enjoyed watching running back EJ Smith work out during the team’s Dallas Day event.
Schottenheimer, who comes from a well-known football family, said the moment was special because of Smith’s family ties to the organization.
In comments reported by ESPN, Schottenheimer said it was exciting to see the son of a Cowboys legend on the field in Dallas.
He said he values family connections and appreciated the opportunity to watch Smith closely during the workout.
Schottenheimer also spoke about Smith’s performance after reviewing his college film.
He said Smith showed strong ability in short-yardage situations and ran with power.
He added that seeing Smith in person, including how he moved and carried himself, left a positive impression.
The workout was part of the Dallas Cowboys’ local prospect evaluation process ahead of the NFL Draft.
Events like Dallas Day allow teams to evaluate nearby prospects while giving players a chance to showcase their skills in front of coaches and team executives.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team gains a noticeable advantage during the pre-draft evaluation process because of its location in a talent-rich region.
NFL rules allow teams to host additional visits for players who attended high school or college in the local area, and those visits do not count toward the league’s official Top 30 visit limit.
Schottenheimer explained that this rule effectively increases the number of prospects the Cowboys are able to evaluate in person.
Instead of being limited to 30 draft visits, the team can bring in significantly more local players for meetings and workouts.
He said the Cowboys are often able to evaluate closer to the mid-40s in total prospects when local visits are included.
He noted that this is possible because the Dallas area consistently produces a large number of football prospects each year.
The region is widely known as one of the strongest football recruiting areas in the country.
That gives the Dallas Cowboys more opportunities to evaluate talent in person compared to teams located in areas with fewer local prospects.
Schottenheimer indicated that the team values this advantage as part of its overall draft preparation and scouting strategy.
EJ Smith is continuing his pursuit of an NFL opportunity after completing his college career at Stanford and Texas A&M.
He spent four seasons at Stanford before transferring and playing two additional seasons at Texas A&M.
During his college career, Smith had limited statistical production and never recorded more than 218 rushing yards in a single season.
Because of those numbers, he is not widely expected to be selected in the NFL Draft.
As a result, Smith’s path to the NFL will likely depend on pre-draft workouts and team evaluations.
He recently participated in a local prospect workout with the Dallas Cowboys, giving him a chance to perform in front of coaches and scouts.
Opportunities like local workouts can sometimes lead to further evaluation. If a team is interested, a player may be invited to a rookie minicamp after the draft.
From there, strong performances can lead to a training camp invitation or a contract as an undrafted free agent.
Smith is still working to earn that opportunity, and his recent workout in Dallas could help him stay on the radar as teams finalize their draft and offseason plans.
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