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Deuce Vaughn, Brandon Aubrey highlight rookies’ effort in Week 17

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The Cowboys’ rookie class had a mostly quiet night on Saturday in Dallas’ 20-19 win over the Lions.

Deuce Vaughn was the only non-kicker to get on the stat sheet with a catch and two short carries. T.J. Bass was solid in relief on the offensive line.

Brandon Aubrey continued his NFL record year – even as he closes in on another NFL record.

But for the top two picks from Michigan it was yet another disappointing effort atop a draft class that continues to underwhelm.

Mazi Smith

(1st Round – Michigan – Defensive Tackle)

Smith got his third start of the season. But he quickly tumbled to fourth among the four defensive tackles in total snaps on Saturday.

Mazi SMith blue uni USA Today
Mazi Smith is struggling to find playing time despite starting the last three games for Dallas. (USA Today photo)

Smith had just 16 snaps on defense and another seven on special teams in what has been an overall disappointing rookie campaign.

He recorded no official stats in the win over the Lions.

Luke Schoonmaker

(2nd Round – Michigan – Tight End)

Like his fellow Wolverine, Schoonmaker has tumbled to the bottom of his position’s room.

Schoonmaker was third among tight ends with 17 offensive snaps. He had another 13 on special teams.

Like Smith, he recorded no official stats in the game.

DeMarvion Overshown

(3rd Round – Texas – Linebacker)

Overshown continues to rehab from a pre-season knee injury suffered in Seattle.

Viliami Fehoko

(4th Round – San Jose State – Edge)

Fehoko was inactive once again. He has yet to see any action in a regular season game this year.

Asim Richards

(5th Round – North Carolina – Offensive Tackle)

Richards was inactive for Saturday’s game against Detroit. He has been inactive in nine of the Cowboys’ 16 games this season.

Eric Scott Jr.

(6th Round – New Mexico – Defensive Back)

Scott was inactive once again. He has yet to see any action in a regular season game this year.

Deuce Vaughn

(6th Round – Kansas State – Running Back)

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Deuce Vaughn had three touches on Saturday, his first action after six-straight games being listed as inactive. (Getty Images)

Vaughn was active after a six-game inactive stretch, thanks to Rico Dowdle’s injury.

He had eight offensive snaps on Saturday. Vaughn had two carries for two yards and added one catch for 10 yards.

Jalen Brooks

(7th Round – South Carolina – Wide Receiver)

Brooks had two offensive snaps and another 10 on special teams. He was not targeted by Dak Prescott on either of his plays.

Brooks has been inactive 10 times in 16 games this year.

T.J. Bass

(UDFA – Oregon – Guard)

Bass saw 26 snaps on offense after Tyler Smith went down with a foot injury. He also added four snaps on special teams.

Hunter Luepke

(UDFA – North Dakota State – Running Back)

A week after his role in a critical handoff blunder with Prescott, Luepke did not touch the ball Saturday against the Lions.

He saw eight snaps on offense as a blocking back and another 15 on special teams.

Brandon Aubrey

(UDFA – Notre Dame – Kicker)

Aubrey hit on field goals of 43 and 51 yards. He also connected on both point after tries.

Brandon Aubrey blue jersey
Brandon Aubrey is nearing a second NFL record in his rookie season.

He is now 35-for-35 in field goal attempts, as he continues to add to his NFL record for consecutive field goals made to begin a career.

Mike Vanderjagt, the Cowboys’ kicker in 2006, set the NFL record in 2003 for most field goals made without a miss in a single season with 35.

Aubrey has made 44 of his 47 point after attempts on the year. He has 95 touchbacks in 102 kickoffs on the year.

Richard Paolinelli

Staff Writer

Richard Paolinelli is a sports journalist and author. In addition to his work at InsideTheStar.com, he has a Substack -- Dispatches From A SciFi Scribe – where he discusses numerous topics, including sports in general. He started his newspaper career in 1991 with the Gallup (NM) Independent before going to the Modesto (CA) Bee, Gustine (CA) Press-Standard, and Turlock (CA) Journal -- where he won the 2001 Best Sports Story, in the annual California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. He then moved to the Merced (CA) Sun-Star, Tracy (CA) Press, Patch and finished his career in 2011 with the San Francisco (CA) Examiner. He has written two Non-Fiction sports books, 11 novels, and has over 30 published short stories.

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