Back in April, the world got to witness the shortest player eligible for the NFL Draft get selected by the Dallas Cowboys.
Deuce Vaughn, standing at just 5'5″, was taken in the 6th round at pick 212 overall.
As you probably already know, it was a touching moment because Chris Vaughn, a Cowboys' scout, is Deuce's father.
In a moment of absolute class by the Dallas Cowboys' draft team, father Chris was allowed to make the phone call to his own son to inform him he was being drafted.
Now we are here at the end of July, and the Cowboys' training camp is in full swing.
It's the first opportunity for meaningful reps for rookies and undrafted free agents.
That also means it's our first real chance to see what Deuce looks like in Cowboys' gear as opposed to a Kansas State Wildcats uniform.
The first footage of Deuce carrying the football didn't disappoint.
Deuce Vaughn pic.twitter.com/DP8guBcLGj
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 27, 2023
Yes, I know it's in helmets only, but you can't deny the quickness, foot speed, and willingness to attack the hole in between the tackles.
In true social media fashion, however, that video didn't go viral for the positive football things I mentioned.
No, it became a running joke on Twitter because of Deuce's vertically challenged stature compared to the other players on the field.
5'5" Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn looks like a toddler who broke loose on the field after stealing someone's phone and won't give it back pic.twitter.com/tofgQTLHRP
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) July 28, 2023
The @NFL_Memes twitter account's version of this video is at 8.1 million views and counting.
I feel for Deuce. Like him, I also stand at 5'5″ tall.
The jokes never really end.
However, the way Deuce plays football is no joke.
College Career
As a senior at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Texas, Deuce earned honorable mention all-state honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association.
Deuce finished his senior season as the District 13-6A Offensive MVP after accumulating 5,472 all-purpose yards and 49 touchdowns.
That production earned him a scholarship to Kansas State University where he earned the starting running back role halfway through his freshman season.
Vaughn decided to forego his senior season to enter the NFL Draft after three years of elite production at the collegiate level.
In just 29 games played, Deuce racked up 3,341 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on 5.7 yards per carry.
Even more special is his talent at receiving.
In those same 29 games, Deuce caught 89 passes for 989 yards and six touchdowns.
Countless explosive and highlight worthy plays were featured on his path to those stats.
NFL Combine
As a Doak Walker award candidate, Vaughn was extended an invite to the 2023 NFL Combine to showcase his skills to prospective teams.
Deuce did not blow teams away, but he did enough to catch the attention of the Cowboys draft team with some of his measurables.
An average time of 4.56 in the 40 yard dash didn't deter Dallas from placing him on their draft board.
They instead focused on his 1.59 second 10 yard split and 2.67 second 20 yard split.
Along with his 4.22 second 20 yard shuttle and 7.10 second three cone drill, Dallas noticed the burst and explosiveness that made him a star in college.
NFL Career?
Nobody can predict the future, but we sure can make an educated guess based on past experience.
Because of his affiliation with Kansas State University, Deuce's career trajectory is closely linked to former NFL RB Darren Sproles.
Sproles was drafted in the 4th round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.
Throughout his 15 year career, Sproles also spent time with the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.
His role was the same with all three teams.
A big special teams contributor in the return game while also being peppered in as a passing game back with the occasional carry.
If his career is anything like Sproles', we are in for a treat.
I'll finish with a quote from ESPN NFL Analyst Todd McShay.
“I promise you 10 years from now I'm going to be in my mid 50s sitting on this desk and we're going to still be talking about this young man, Deuce Vaughn, in the NFL.”
So make your jokes, and keep underestimating what Christopher “Deuce” Vaughn II can do on the football field.
Your jokes and his height don't mean anything because if we are being honest, they haven't stopped him yet.
