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Can this Texas Longhorns star unlock the Cowboys defense?

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The Dallas Cowboys defense has been a top focus of the front office this off-season. From hiring Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator to extending Osa Odighizuwa, the team has tried hard to buff up the D, and one NFL Draft prospect could be the finishing touch.

Even with Odighizuwa’s return, defensive tackle remains a major need for Dallas. Mazi Smith has yet to prove himself as a starter, and recently signed Solomon Thomas is a depth piece.

This issue has been a thorn in the Cowboys’ side for far too long, and it’s time they take another swing at a long-term fix. The 2025 NFL Draft presents the perfect opportunity.

Enter Alfred Collins, a 23-year-old star anchoring the Texas Longhorns’ defense, and the potential next All-Pro on the Cowboys defense.

The Bastrop, Texas, native enters the draft as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the class, and his fit in Dallas makes a ton of sense. Let’s discuss him as a prospect, and why the Cowboys could pull the trigger on the Longhorns star.

Can this Texas Longhorns star unlock the Cowboys defense? 2

Alfred Collins: The Perfect Man In The Middle

At 6’5″, 332 lbs, Collins could fill the middle of the Dallas defense with size, impressive strength, and versatility. They’ve been trying to find a guy like Collins in the draft for years, and he has arrived at their doorstep.

Smith, while he did show improvement last season, is still far from what the team hoped for when they drafted him in the first round.

With his rookie contract getting closer to the end, the team should look at Collins as a second chance to fix the nose tackle spot with a high-potential, disruptive rookie.

In 2024, Collins was named First-team All-SEC and Second-team All-American after he racked up 55 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and seven passes defensed in his fifth year of college football.

The experience and production he brings as a prospect are significant, and when you add his traits and potential to the mix, he becomes a top option at his position.

I see Collins as an immediate starter, taking over for Smith and pairing side-by-side with Odighizuwa. It seems that Dallas may think similarly, as they’ve now brought him in on an official pre-draft visit.

In short, Alfred Collins could quickly become a dominant run stuffer with pass rush upside on a new and improved Dallas defensive line.

Can this Texas Longhorns star unlock the Cowboys defense? 4

The Why: Following Winning Footsteps

Cowboys fans have talked a lot about the offense this offseason, and it’s easy to see why. Dak Prescott is the face of the team, wide receiver is a big need, and Ashton Jeanty is one heck of a prospect who has expressed interest in Dallas.

That said, we’ve seen from winning teams across the NFL that tangible results are built in the trenches, and specifically, on the defensive line.

The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions right now largely because of what they built in their front-seven. Right now, Dallas does not have enough talent in that unit to compete at the highest level.

Micah Parsons is a game-changer, and when he returns, DeMarvion Overshown has shown elite potential, but aside from those guys, the Cowboys defense is lacking.

Relying on a guy like Smith, or Thomas, or Dante Fowler Jr. to generate the non-Parsons impact plays won’t get the job done when the lights get bright. If you bring in a guy like Collins, and his potential is met, that’s when you can get something real cooking.

Until Dallas focuses on defensive trenches in the same way the Eagles have, they’ll be bringing plastic knives to a gun-fight. Drafting Alfred Collins is the perfect start to upping their arsenal.

Mark Heaney

Junior Writer

Mark Heaney is a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan and Junior Writer for Inside The Star. He has written for sites such as FanSided, Whole Nine Sports, and Downtown Sports Network as an NFL Draft analyst and Cowboys writer. He started covering college football and the NFL in 2018 and has scouted over 1,000 draft prospects since. Mark is currently studying at UNC Charlotte and has worked as an intern for the Charlotte 49ers football media team.

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