The rookie class of 2023 has not had many moments of note so far this year.
But Sunday’s 49-17 romp over the Giants offered them some chances to shine. For the most part they took advantage of the opportunity.
Mazi Smith and Jalen Brooks were the stars of the week among the rookies.
Brooks had a breakout performance that should get him on the field more.
Smith may have sidelined some of the calls of “draft bust” with his effort on Sunday. His former Michigan teammate did not.
Luke Schoonmaker did little to ease concerns that Dallas has once again wasted a second-round pick on a tight end that doesn’t pan out.
Here’s how the rookies did on Sunday:
Mazi Smith
(1st Round – Michigan – Defensive Tackle)
Smith doubled his season output in tackles (3) and tackles for a loss (1) in Sunday’s win.
He also registered his first quarterback hit of the year. Clearly, it was Smith’s best game in his career.
Smith had 25 defensive snaps, second only to Osa Odighizuwa (30) among the defensive tackles.
It is the highest snap total of the year and the first time he ranked so high among his group in that category.
Smith had back-to-back tackles of Saquon Barkley on the Giants’ second possession of the game. His third tackle came with 26 seconds left in the game.
Smith’s numbers over his first eight games have left much to be desired.
He will need to build off of this performance to rid himself of the “bust” label that’s been hanging over his head.
But Sunday was a promising first step.
Luke Schoonmaker
(2nd Round – Michigan – Tight End)
Schoonmaker has also had the “bust” label thrown his way over the first half of the year.
Being held out of the end zone on a critical play last week only increased the heat on the rookie.
Unlike his fellow Wolverine, Schoonmaker did nothing to take the heat off of him. He had one target and failed to catch it.
Schoonmaker had 28 offensive snaps and another 13 on special teams.
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 once again inactive for the week. He has yet to play a single snap for Dallas in 2023.
Asim Richards
(5th Round – North Carolina – Offensive Tackle)
Richards was inactive on Sunday. It is the third game Richards has not suited up for this season.
Eric Scott Jr.
(6th Round – New Mexico – Defensive Back)
Scott was once again inactive for the week. Like Fehoko, he has yet to play a single snap for Dallas in 2023.
Deuce Vaughn
(6th Round – Kansas State – Running Back)
After three straight games being listed as inactive, we had a Deuce sighting on Sunday.
With KaVontae Turpin sidelined by injury, Vaughn saw action as a returner on special teams.
Vaughn has three punt returns for nine total yards. He was on the field with the special teams 12 times.
He had five snaps on offense, with one run for minus-two yards and an 11-yard reception.
Jalen Brooks
(7th Round – South Carolina – Wide Receiver)
Coming into Sunday’s game, Brooks had suited up for just two games and saw a total of 20 offensive snaps and 24 on special teams.
He had no stats at all over those two contests.
Brooks had the best game of all the rookies on Sunday. He played 24 snaps on offense and 16 more on special teams.
He also caught all four passes thrown his way for 39 yards.
Three of his catches extended drives that resulted in touchdowns for Dallas.
T.J. Bass
(UDFA – Oregon – Guard)
Bass saw 18 snaps on offense and another seven on special teams.
Hunter Luepke
(UDFA – North Dakota State – Running Back)
Luepke saw five snaps on offense and 21 on special teams but did not get any touches on offense.
Brandon Aubrey
(UDFA – Notre Dame – Kicker)
Aubrey did not get a chance to extend his consecutive field-goals-made streak.
It was the first game this year that he did not attempt a field goal.
However, he did make all seven of his extra-point tries. He has now made 26 straight extra points after missing his very first attempt.