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Todd Archer, ESPN Employees Author
FRISCO, Texas — DeMarvion Overshown was like a number of Texas boys within the third grade. He wished to develop up and play for the Dallas Cowboys. Put it on the market within the yearbook for everyone to see.
When the Cowboys chosen him within the third spherical of this yr’s draft, he went to social media, proving that his dream was now a actuality.
“The humorous factor is, I wasn’t even like a giant, enormous Cowboy fan rising up, however I knew if I used to be going to play at one place and I had the selection, it was going to be the Cowboys,” Overshown stated. “It’s the hometown group.”
Overshown grew up in East Texas. He attended Arp Excessive Faculty, a bit greater than two hours from AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys’ residence in Arlington, Texas, off Interstate 20. It’s the typical small Texas city the place highschool soccer guidelines.
“I let you know what, if we had been [playing] out of city, the final particular person needed to flip the lights off and lock the shop door,” stated Overshown’s coach, Dale Irwin, who spent 19 years because the Tigers’ coach. “Sports activities is the group. Our city’s not actual huge. Now we have about two, three shops proper on the railroad tracks. A significant highway runs by means of it, however the city has sports activities. They’re a giant a part of it.”
To actuality! pic.twitter.com/S44hs19kEs
— DeMarvion Overshown (@AGENT0__) April 30, 2023
Overshown made an impression on Irwin as a freshman, getting referred to as as much as the varsity for the district playoffs, taking part in exterior linebacker and defensive finish on the Class 3A faculty. As a sophomore, he moved to free security.
“He stated, ‘Coach, no matter makes us higher,’” Irwin stated. “I feel that yr he had 200 tackles. You couldn’t run on us. He had most likely 20 tackles for loss that yr from the protection spot, in addition to 10-15 interceptions. I can’t bear in mind, however he actually took off for us.”
By his junior yr, he had 60 to 70 schools recruiting him, from Alabama to Ohio State, however he selected Texas.
He arrived in Austin as a security however left as a linebacker. In 2022, he was an All-Large 12 choice with a career-high 96 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, two quarterback pressures and 5 cross breakups.
“He has absolute excessive athleticism and … he’s acquired a really excessive IQ,” Irwin stated of the 6-foot-4, 224-pound Overshown. “You may scheme with him like they do with Micah [Parsons]. Transfer him round to totally different spots, put him on totally different platforms, totally different ranges, and he can get after the quarterback. He’s going to need to placed on some weight, which he can do. They’ll get him on the coaching desk, but when he’s like 245-250, he’ll be an absolute terror, I’m telling you.”
On draft evening, Overshown stated the Cowboys’ plan was to play him “wherever and all over the place.”
“My versatility is absolutely what separates my sport from lots of people, and I’m prepared to point out that,” Overshown stated.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s plan is to make use of Overshown first as a weakside linebacker. On the rookie minicamp, he was the one linebacker working with place coach Scott McCurley, however Quinn sees the potential of him doing extra.
“After we can get to that spot the place you’re interchangeable items, it appears extra advanced, however actually, I might say the package deal could be simpler after we’re simply that includes folks in numerous spots,” Quinn stated.
In the mean time, Overshown is penciled in behind linebacker Damone Clark on protection, however Quinn has proven the flexibility to make use of gamers at totally different spots. Parsons has performed off-the-ball linebacker and pass-rusher. He has used Jayron Kearse at linebacker and security. Overshown must present he’s a fast learner.
“He has a plan for me, and I’m excited to get in that protection,” Overshown stated.
Overshown is worked up simply to be a Cowboy. Every week after the draft, he went to an Arp elementary faculty to speak and play with the scholars. Possibly he associated the story of his third-grade yearbook to them. Possibly at some point certainly one of them will see the identical realization of the dream.
“Getting that decision, I’ll always remember that second,” Overshown stated. “The tears immediately simply operating down my face, the love and the enjoyment that I heard from my household once they noticed my title come up throughout the display as a Dallas Cowboy, I’ll always remember it.”
However now he has to earn every part. Even the star on his helmet, with coach Mike McCarthy carrying on a convention that began years in the past with rookies.
“It’s lacking a star, however I’m OK with it. I’m gonna earn it,” he stated. “That’s what I wish to do. I truly need it that approach. I would like to have the ability to earn that star, to have the ability to know the vets belief me. So no matter I’ve acquired to do to get that star on my helmet, that’s what I’m going to do.”