The Dallas Cowboys held their invite-only workout for local college players Thursday at The Star, and a familiar name attended: E.J. Smith.
His father is Cowboys Hall of Famer and all-time NFL leading rusher, Emmitt Smith. E.J. Smith starred in high school at Jesuit in Dallas, then went to Stanford and ended his career at Texas A&M.
"Very cool," Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "You know me, man, I'm family. I'm all family. And you watch his film and he was an incredible short-yardage runner, powerful. But, yeah, just watching him move, seeing him in person, the type of young man he is, it's cool."
The Cowboys had a recent visit with Texas A&M RB E.J. Smith, son of legendary Dallas RB Emmitt Smith. AP Photo/Michael Wyke The Cowboys have long viewed their "Dallas Day" workout as an advantage because of the quality of players from the area who play in the top colleges across the country. They are also able to pull in prospects from SMU, TCU and North Texas for workouts.
This year, the Cowboys had players such as LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (Flower Mound, Marcus) and Miami center James Brockermeyer (All Saints, Fort Worth). Not all of the players work out. Some players with higher grades only visit with the scouts and coaches.
While each team is allowed 30 national visitors, the Cowboys are able to use the Dallas Day designation on some of the top prospects.
"We multiply our top 30," Schottenheimer said. "We're like top 45, top 48, whatever it is. And it's because of the fact that we've got that location. And our scouting staff does a great job."
Bringing a Super Bowl home
This isn't about the Cowboys' Super Bowl drought. It's about the AT&T Stadium Super Bowl drought. When the stadium opened in 2009, the hope was it would become part of the unofficial rotation for the NFL's big game.
Instead, it has hosted it only once, Super Bowl XLV in 2011, when Mike McCarthy's Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team McCarthy joined this season, a year after his tenure as the Cowboys' head coach ended.
Best of NFL Nation
• Did Willis feel 'tricked' by Wadde trade? • Ryans 'excited' to see C.J. Stroud's growth • Why Giants are certain Likely will break out • Raiders' reasons for paying Linderbaum • Panthers' most pressing draft need?
There were issues with the weather and a seating fiasco that led to a number of lawsuits, and the region has not made a bid for a Super Bowl since. SoFi Stadium opened in 2020 and will host its second Super Bowl in 2027. Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium will host its second Super Bowl in 2029. Then there are new stadiums coming in Nashville, Chicago and Washington D.C.